Maria Alieva Belarusian trade unionist Date of Birth: 01.01.1953 Country: Belarus

1. Early Life and Career
2. Trade Union Activism
3. Leadership in the Free Trade Union of Belarus
4. Advocacy for Women's Rights
5. Civic Engagement
6. Later Years and Legacy

Early Life and Career

Maria Aliyeva, a prominent trade unionist and women's rights advocate, was born on January 1, 1953, in the Belarusian village of Ostrov into a farming family. After completing secondary school, she moved to Minsk to live with her siblings. In 1970, she began working as an assistant controller at a motor factory and subsequently became a controller in 1971. However, her earnings were meager. From 1971 to 1993, Aliyeva held a position as a coil winder at an electrical engineering plant, where she met her future husband. In 1981, they welcomed a daughter, Narmine, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1984. Aliyeva raised her daughter single-handedly without her ex-spouse's support.

Trade Union Activism

While working at the plant, Aliyeva became an active member of the Communist Party, but she resigned in 1991. She played a pivotal role in organizing a labor strike at her workplace in April 1991. When some workers hesitated to join the protest, Aliyeva took the initiative to cut cables, causing the machines to halt and triggering the strike. Alongside her fellow workers, she participated in blocking trams on Minsk's Dolgobrodskaya Street. The workers' chants of "Aliyeva, lead us to the Supreme Council!" resonated through the city, but she wisely decided to wait for the authorities to approach them for negotiations.

As part of the 1991 labor movement in Belarus, Aliyeva joined the Minsk City Strike Committee. On April 10, 1991, she played a crucial role during the standoff with riot police blocking access to the House of Government. Believing that they would not harm a woman, Aliyeva moved forward, and to her surprise, the riot police allowed the protesters to pass. During the August coup attempt, she played an active role in encouraging the public to resist the putschists.

Leadership in the Free Trade Union of Belarus

From December 1993 to January 1995, Aliyeva served as vice-president of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions. Subsequently, she held various leadership positions within the Free Trade Union of Belarus from February 1995 to March 1997, and again from April 1999 to September 2001. Notably, she was elected chairwoman of the union from March 29, 1997, to April 26, 1999. Aliyeva was instrumental in organizing the "March of Empty Pots" on February 22, 1997, a protest against poverty and hunger that drew over 1,500 participants. In recognition of her work in trade unionism, she received the Federation of Dutch Trade Unions Prize in 1999.

Advocacy for Women's Rights

From March 15, 1998, to January 15, 2005, Aliyeva was the chairwoman of the Belarusian Organization of Working Women (BOTZh), which she helped establish. Under her leadership, BOTZh set up legal aid centers to provide free assistance to women in difficult life situations. Additionally, the organization offered legal education, facilitated seminars, organized meetings with lawmakers, government officials, and employers to address local issues, participated in election campaigns, and fostered international cooperation.

Civic Engagement

On the eve of the 90th anniversary of the Belarusian People's Republic, Aliyeva actively engaged in civic and political activities. On March 22, 2008, she was briefly detained in Minsk while distributing the independent publication "Volnaya Serabranka." She was fined by a district court for violating public order. Aliyeva was a member of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Gramada) and was elected to its Central Committee in 2018.

Later Years and Legacy

In the lead-up to and after the 2020 presidential elections, Aliyeva remained politically active. She participated in protests against electoral fraud, including the "pensioner marches." Despite suffering a stroke in 2019, she continued to speak out for women's rights and workers' issues. Maria Aliyeva passed away in Minsk on November 24, 2020. She was laid to rest in her hometown of Ostrov. Aliyeva's legacy as a fearless trade unionist, women's rights advocate, and defender of democratic values continues to inspire generations of Belarusians.