Minsk court imposes prison sentences on trade union leaders

December 26, BPN. The Minsk City Court has imposed prison sentences on leaders of the outlawed Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BCDTU), the Viasna Human Rights Center reports.

BCDTU Chairman Alaksandr Jarašuk was sentenced to four years in prison; his deputy Siarhiej Antusievič, to two years; accountant Iryna But-Husajim, to 18 months. That was is exactly the punishment the prosecutors had asked for on December 23.

All three were found guilty of organization of/active participation in group actions grossly disturbing public order. Jarašuk, who had repeatedly and publicly opposed sanctions on Belarus, was also convicted of calling for sanctions.

The activists were arrested on April 19, 2022. Human rights activists declared them political prisoners.

The BCDTU was an umbrella organization for the Belarusian Free Trade Union, the Free Union of Steel Industry Workers, the Belarusian Trade Union of Electronic Industry Workers, and the Belarusian Independent Trade Union. The Supreme Court shut them down in July 2022.