Aliaksandr Yarashuk, the imprisoned trade union leader from Belarus and recipient of the 2025 Arthur Svensson International Prize for Trade Union Rights, has finally been freed.

He had been imprisoned since April 2022 for his peaceful efforts to defend fundamental rights and was sentenced to four years in prison.

Yesterday, Yarashuk was released along with 51 other prisoners as part of an agreement between Belarus and the United States. According to Reuters, the group—which includes several foreign nationals—has traveled to Lithuania with an American delegation.

“When we awarded Yarashuk the Arthur Svensson Prize this summer, it was with the hope of keeping his case alive. Now he is out of prison, and his struggle has inspired—and will continue to inspire—the global labour movement,” said Alfheim.

A Voice the Regime Could Never Silence

Yarashuk is the President of BKDP, the national centre for independent trade unions in Belarus, Vice President of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), and a board member of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Following the peaceful protests in 2020, the regime responded with brutal repression. More than 40 trade union leaders were imprisoned, and all independent unions were banned.

“He is in prison because he believes in justice. It’s a symbol of how far authoritarian regimes will go to crush freedom and silence voices that challenge their power,” said Lizaveta Merliak, leader of the exile-based organization Salidarnast, during the award ceremony in Oslo in June.

He also emphasized what the recognition meant to the family.

“This prize is an important acknowledgment of all he has sacrificed. My father has dedicated his life to the fight for workers’ rights and human dignity in Belarus.”

Solidarity That Makes a Difference

The Union Strength Federation has for years been a strong voice for imprisoned trade union leaders in Belarus. The Arthur Svensson Prize awarded to Yarashuk was intended both as support and as pressure on the regime.

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has also welcomed the release. In a statement, they emphasized that this is a positive step, but reminded the world that many trade union comrades remain behind bars.

“Even as we celebrate today, many trade union leaders are still imprisoned in Belarus. The struggle is not over,” said Frode Alfheim.