Andrei Sannikov: Lukashenka Regime Was Really Humiliated
- 21.06.2023, 8:46
The ILO dealt a stronger blow to the dictator than the sectoral sanctions did.
The International Labor Organization (ILO), a United Nations agency dealing with labor relations, adopted a resolution on Belarus at the 111th annual Geneva Conference. Namely, Article 33 of the ILO Constitution will be applied against the Lukashenka regime for continuing violations of the rights of workers and trade unions. Such measures threaten Belarus with an economic blockade.
“In the event of any Member failing to carry out within the time specified the recommendations, if any, contained in the report of the Commission of Inquiry, or in the decision of the International Court of Justice, as the case may be, the Governing Body may recommend to the Conference such action as it may deem wise and expedient to secure compliance therewith,” Article 33 reads.
“There will be even more damage than from sectoral sanctions”
Andrei Sannikov, the leader of the European Belarus Civil Campaign considers the decision of the International Labor Organization a very serious measure.
“The ILO really does not like to do this and tries to smooth out conflicts, find (compromise) solutions sending delegations in all the time. However, in this case, they were very concerned about the fact that the leaders of the independent trade unions were imprisoned.
This (the application of Article 33 of the ILO Constitution) can be severe because there must be mechanisms on two levels. Firstly, governments must make appropriate decisions on sanctions, and secondly, trade unions, both national and international. And this is the most serious. Belarusian officials have been moaning for a week now. This has never happened before. They are justifying themselves and blaming everyone around, but they themselves led to this,” he commented for the Voice of America.
Andrei Sannikov said that he recently spoke with many trade union leaders, and they were very serious about the Lukashenka regime. International trade union solidarity can do a lot. An example of this is the situation in Poland in the 1980s, when Western, including American trade unions, supported Solidarity significantly. This support played an important role in changing the political situation. “I think that there will be even more damage (to the Belarusian economy) than from sectoral sanctions because it will affect many various spheres. Moreover, let's not forget that this is a harsh humiliation of the regime, which is put on the same level as Myanmar, against which this measure was applied in 2000. The regime there is known throughout the world as simply disgusting,” Andrei Sannikov said.
Andrei Sannikov is sure that the Kremlin's money will not be able to compensate the Lukashenka regime for the damage caused by the ILO's decision. “Putin supports Lukashenka financially to fill the (budget) gaps. But at the same time, he is driving Lukashenka into a corner more and more and strengthening his control over him. He is no longer independent, he does everything that Putin orders him to do. The worst thing he did was to drag Belarus into the war. He is a full-fledged participant in the war,” said the leader of the European Belarus civil movement.
If Russian trade unions, to which Article 33 of the ILO Constitution does not apply, decide to rescue Lukashenka, they will be cut dead at the international level. “So there will be no compensation (at the expense of Russia), but again, much depends on the national governments,” Andrei Sannikov summed up.