Independent trade unions declared their readiness for dialogue with the authorities on overcoming the crisis

The delegates of the 11th reporting and election congress of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions urged the citizens of the country, all political forces and civil society “to support the demand for an urgent start of dialogue”.

The statement was signed by representatives of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BNP), the Belarusian Free Trade Union (SPB), the Free Metalworkers’ Union (SPM), and the Belarusian Trade Union of Workers of Radio and Electronic Industry (REP).

“It is impossible to achieve reconciliation and unity in a divided society, to restore the normal administration and development of the country and the state, while continuing the harsh suppression of dissent and the use of repression against citizens and their organizations. Only negotiations and a full-scale and open dialogue between opponents representing the entire Belarusian society will make it possible to achieve this goal. Without such a dialogue, Belarus will come to a dead end”, the appeal says.

 

Aliaksandr Yarashuk, BKDP Chairman

 

Maksim Poznyakov, BNP Chairman

 

Aliaksandr Bukhvostov, SPM Chairman

 

Elena Eskova, BKDP national lawyer

 

Nikolay Sharakh, SPB Chairman

 

Stepan Pavlovich, chairman of the Control and Revision Commission

 

Irina Zyl, Chairman of the BKDP women’s network

 

Siarhei Antusevich, BKDP Vice-Chairman

 

The full text of the appeal which describes the scope of the dialogue and the role of international institutions, the West and Russia is available here.