On 18 July, 2022, the Supreme Court decided to liquidate and dissolve the Free Trade Union of Belarus (SPB) and its affiliates, namely Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP), Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BITU or BNP), Free Trade Union of Metalworkers (SPM), and Union of Radio and Electronics Workers (REP). The repression of independent trade unions in Belarus is deemed to be politically motivated and to constitute an assault on democracy and its institutions. Group rights define the arrest of trade union leaders for exercising their legitimate right to freedom of association as a grave violation of their fundamental human rights.