Verdict in trial of trade union leaders to be announced on January 5

January 4, BPN. The Minsk City Court has resumed the trial of leaders of the outlawed Belarusian Trade Union of Electronic Industry Workers (REP) and is expected to deliver a verdict on January 5, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

Authorities accuse REP’s longtime leader Hienadź Fiadynič, acting chair Vasil Bierasnieŭ, and activist Viačasłaŭ (Vacłaŭ) Areška of inciting hatred, calling for sanctions and creating and running an extremist group. The trial opened on November 25 and has been held behind closed doors.

A wave of arrests of independent trade union activists swept across Belarus on April 18 and 19. Prior to that, authorities blacklisted the electronic union as an extremist group. Human rights organizations consider the arrested trade union leaders political prisoners.

In July, the Supreme Court ruled to shut down all Belarusian independent trade unions as well as their umbrella organization, the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions.

International trade union confederations condemned the crackdown and urged authorities to immediately restore workers’ right to freedom of association.