2 March, 2021As the entire Belarusian independent union movement is under threat, a stronger involvement and intervention by the international community is urgently needed in Belarus. IndustriALL Global Union is again strongly denouncing the continuing violations of fundamental human and workers’ rights, attacks on independent unions and repression of union leaders and activists, in breach of international labour standards and norms, ratified by Belarus. The recent police raids on the offices and homes of trade union activists clearly show that authorities are trying to intimidate everyone in order to discourage people from fighting for democracy and human rights. During the brutal search of the office of IndustriALL affiliate, the Belarusian Radio and Electronic Industry Workers' Union (REP), police found a shotgun cartridge, which the union leadership claims had been planted to justify further repression. The find may result in allegations of terrorist activity with lifetime imprisonment or death penalty. Given the systematic violations of human rights and the lack of justice in Belarus, REP chair Vasily Zavadsky left the country to escape a very likely illegal detention.