On January 20, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the President of the Norwegian company Yara, Svein Tore Holsether, held an online meeting. They discussed the situation on Belaruskali. The call was also attended by the Norwegian Ambassador to Lithuania and Belarus Ole Terje Horpestad, representative of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union Elizaveta Merlyak, representative of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions Alexander Yaroshuk, member of the Belaruskali strike committee Vitalij Dedyuk, representative of NAU Anatoly Kotov, as well as a representative of the Belarusian Diaspora in Norway.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya recalled that Yara offered to revise the contract with Belaruskali if the repression at the enterprise continues. Yara must speak about what conditions it sets for Belaruskali if the repressions do not stop. “All parties to this meeting can propose real steps to resolve the situation on Belaruskali. Let's work together because this is how we can find the best solution,” said Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
Yara stressed that it is important for them to respect workers' rights. Tore Holsether said that the company will uphold the ethical principles of doing business and continue to stand up for the workers of Belaruskali.
After the call on the evening of the same day, Belaruskali published an official press release. The company indicated that it is ready to accept Yara specialists to monitor the work, exclude disciplinary sanctions from employees, and reinstate previously dismissed employees. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's office and Yara will monitor the situation on Belaruskali so that actions confirm the company's words.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also reminds Belaruskali that the workers' demands are much broader than those indicated in the management's release. They include ending repression, releasing political prisoners and holding new elections. “We fully support the demands of the striking workers and will work with Yara to ensure that the workers' right to strike is ensured”, Tsikhanouskaya said.
