Cichanoŭskaja aide: ILO backs designing sanctions against Łukašenka regime

November 8, BPN. The International Labor Organization (ILO) has voted to elaborate sanctions against the Belarusian authorities for violating workers’ rights, says Franak Viačorka, an adviser to opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja.

Viačorka went on Telegram to call the decision “historic and powerful.”

“Such a decision has been made only once in history – against Myanmar [in 2001]. The ILO has until March to work out sanctions against the Łukašenka regime and adopt them at the [International] Labor Conference in June. Two-thirds of the members would have to vote in favor. These could be economic sanctions up to economic blockade,” he said.

Cichanoŭskaja’s office previously told BPN that the range of sanctions could be broad and include a ban on ILO members, 187 states, to trade with Belarus.

ILO said 23 union members in Belarus have been arrested or their freedom of movement has been restricted.

On April 18-19, a wave of searches and arrests of independent trade union activists swept through Belarus. Human rights activists declared the jailed unionists political prisoners. They are expected to go on trial in November.

In July the Belarusian Supreme Court shut down all independent trade unions.