Andrei Sannikov: Demented System Has Been Digging Its Own Pit To Fall There Now

The ILO has shown that the time has come to make tough decisions.

The International Labor Organization supported the resolution challenging Belarus. Article 33 of the ILO Constitution will apply to the Lukashenka regime.

Governments and representatives of employers from the organisation's member states are to reconsider relations with the authorities of Belarus.

The leader of the European Belarus Civil Campaign Andrei Sannikov gave an interview to Charter97.org. He speaks about how this resolution will hit the Lukashenka regime.

– An unprecedented resolution was adopted at the International Labor Conference, which enacts article 33 of the ILO Constitution in relation to the Lukashenka regime. The Conference is the highest legislative body, so to speak. This body is unique because it includes representatives of governments, employers and workers - all three parties to the labour agreements, which all ILO member states are to sign.

The resolution was adopted by an overwhelming majority, 301 votes against 54. This is an indicator that Lukashenka has already crossed all the red lines in his policy, it's time to make tough decisions.

Article 33 of the Constitution of the International Labor Organization provides for the imposition of sanctions. Since the decision is made, governments must adopt it at the national level, but not only by them. There are two sides to this decision: a punishment by sanctions and support for the independent trade union movement and the workers of Belarus as well as broad international solidarity.

I repeat that this is an unprecedented resolution; in a hundred years, this is only the second time such a decision has been made. The first time it was adopted in relation to Myanmar in 2000, in connection with the use of forced labour. With regard to the Lukashenka regime, the justification for this was the lack of freedom of association, the lack of freedom to sign labour contracts in an appropriate manner. This is a rather tough decision that will have very serious consequences.

– What will the process of implementing these decisions look like after the adopted resolution?

– Everything depends on the governments now. Again, if you take the two sides that I mentioned, governments will have to impose even tougher sanctions, economic sanctions. Here we are no longer talking about some kind of personal restrictions since the rights of workers are violated. Usually, this is fought with economic sanctions.

Trade unions in democratic countries will provide all kinds of support, firstly, to political prisoners from among the leaders of independent trade unions, who, in my opinion, according to the ILO's own calculations, number 40 people in Belarus. I think there are actually more. Secondly, support will be provided to the leaders of the independent trade union movement, who today are forced to live abroad.

– Is it possible that, for example, the countries of Latin America and Asia join the pressure on the regime?

– Yes, of course, this decision just expands the geography, since non-compliance with the ILO resolution entails negative consequences for those countries that ignore it.

So I expect there will be a more comprehensive sanctions mode. Of course, one should not expect the notorious scoundrels - Russia, Zimbabwe and Venezuela, who spoke in support of Belarus, to join these measures. But other states, especially those that want to develop their relations with the whole world, with the West above all, will have to join.

– Do you think such a decision will help in the release of political prisoners?

– I think yes. Much was said at the conference about political prisoners, first of all, about trade union leaders. By the way, I want to recall the background, because such a decision was not made so suddenly. The ILO is known for advocating compromise, incremental measures, small steps and negotiation attempts.

This whole story has been going on since 2003 when the Commission of Inquiry was created after the violation of the rights of trade unions. Even Uladzimir Hancharyk was deprived of the post of chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus when he dared to stand as a candidate for elections, although he was a member of the bureaucratic elite in the system, which today is headed by the obedient Arda. During the work of this Commission, Belarus has already been excluded from the General System of Preferences of the European Union for violating the rights of workers.

By the way, a very interesting detail: the ILO was close to making this decision in 2021, but the leader of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions Aliaksandr Yarashuk strongly opposed this decision. That is why the decision was not made. He was criticized for this, but Yarashuk insisted that his position would help improve the position of trade unions in the countries.

Aliaksandr Yaroshuk is behind bars today. The insane regime does not even realize that it has been digging this hole for a very long time, and now it has been dug. It must fall there now, and this should help the release of political prisoners.

They are already making decisions to impose sanctions even linked to certain categories of political prisoners. For example, we know that journalistic organizations make decisions for journalists, and the Polish government makes rather tough decisions for the Polish minority. I believe that the most serious decision was made by the most notable body that should stand up for the protection of workers' rights - the International Labor Organization. I think now this pressure should simply be increased, then we will see the result.

– What can be done to promote this initiative?

– A lot depends on national governments and parliaments now, because it is the parliaments that should and will control how this resolution is implemented in relation to the Lukashenka regime.

I think we should expect some specific decisions because the application of Article 33 provides for monitoring and reporting on its implementation. Therefore, we must expect to hear unfavourable news for the regime in the near future.

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