Belarusian Trade Union Preparing Nationwide Protests

MINSK -- The independent Belarusian Radio and Electronic Industry (NPRP) trade union has said it is organizing a series of protests to be held on April 3.

NPRP leaders told RFE/RL's Belarus Service that the protests will be held in several major cities, adding that the goal of the actions is to persuade local authorities to register the NPRP's local branches.

Galina Lisitsina, an NRPR leader in the city of Magilev, said that this is the eighth attempt by the trade union's branch in her city to register in the last several years.

NRPR Cochairman Alyaksandr Bukhvostau told RFE/RL that the impediments faced by his organization show the true state of liberalization recently proclaimed by Belarusian officials.