human rights defender

Valiantsin Tseranevich

Actions and Campaigns

Organization affiliation

  • Belarusian Independent Trade Union at Grodno Azot company
  • Rabochy Rukh (Workers movement) labour rights group

HRD's year of birth

1975

HRD's Gender

Man

Type of HRD

  • Trade union leader

HRD's thematic area of engagement

  • Labour rights

HRD's geographical origin

Urban

Current Status

In prison (sentenced)

HRD's bio and work

Valiantsin was an assistant foreman at the Khimvolokno factory (part of Grodno Azot) and deputy chairman of the Independent Belarusian Trade Union of Grodno Azot. He can craft almost anything from wood and metal using his own hands.

Valiantsin was on trial in a criminal case for treason opened against the workers from Belarusian factories who supported the strike and were part of Rabochy Rukh, an initiative designed to unite working people of Belarus in protecting their civil and labour rights and freedoms. The authorities recognised Rabochy Rukh as an extremist group, and workers were arrested across the country. In the autumn of 2024 Valiantsin was transferred from the penal colony to the prison.

Detained since

Sep 20, 2021

Charge(s)

  • Extremism
  • Treason

Sentence

12 years

Geolocation of detention

Country or area of detention

Region of detention

  • Europe: Eastern Europe

Location of detention - City/Town

Mahilioŭ

Location of detention - Facility

Prison No. 4. 212011, Mahilioŭ, vulica Krupskaj 99A

Any other relevant documents

402nd Report of the Committee on Freedom of Association, GB.347/INS/17/2 https://www.ilo.org/resource/gb/347/402nd-report-committee-freedom-association

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