Workers at BelAZ, one of Belarus’ biggest manufacturers, have called for a strike, adding uncertainty to the current situation, which has gripped the country after a controversial election and crackdown on the opposition.
A group of BelAZ workers staged a protest at the company plant near the capital Minsk, a Sputnik correspondent reported from the scene. They wanted the entire plant to go on a strike in response to a continued crackdown on anti-government activists in Belarus. Others gathered for a separate rally outside the plant to support the demonstration of the workers.
Management at BelAZ downplayed the protest, saying it amounted to nothing more than a meeting between them and the workers, who wanted their demands to be heard.
Opposition media were quick to describe the events as a much-anticipated national strike that will put pressure on the Belarusian government. Similar worker protests were reported at other major plants in the country, including construction material maker Keramin, fertilizer producer Grodno Azot, and others.
If you like this story, share it with a friend!
