Kyrgyzstan Metallurgists Support REP

Belarusian authorities received a letter demanding to stop the persecution of the leaders of the independent trade union.

The Mining and Metallurgical Trade Union of the Kyrgyz Republic called on the Belarusian authorities to release Ihar Komlik, stop criminal prosecution against the leaders of the REP trade union Henadz Fiadynich and Ihar Komlik and remove all ungrounded accusations against them, praca-by.info informs.

The Mining and Metallurgical Trade Union of the Kyrgyz Republic noted that the activity of the trade union is aimed at improving the working and living conditions of the citizens of Belarus, as well as increasing the social and economic welfare in the country. While searches, arrests and seizures can jeopardize the work of independent trade unions.

We remind, that on August 2, employees of the Department of Financial Investigations searched and seized computer equipment and financial documents in the office of the REP trade union. REP Chairman Henadz Fiadynich and accountant Ihar Komlik were arrested. Fiadynich was questioned and released, while Komlik remained in custody. Komlik was kept first in the temporary detention center, and 3 days later - in the pre-trial detention centre No. 1.

On August 10, Ihar Komlik was charged under the Part 2 of the Article 243 ("Evasion from payment of taxes in an especially large amount"). The measure of restraint to Komlik hasn’t been changed – he is still in prison. Fiadynich and Komlik might face 3 to 7 years of imprisonment.

The country’s leading human rights organizations said on August 3 that Ihar Komlik was a political prisoner. According to the human rights activists, the trade union leaders faced criminal charges for political reasons, which are linked to their activities and the peaceful exercise of freedom of association.

The Belarusian trade union leaders were publicly supported by the IndustriALL Global Union and the International Confederation of Trade Unions, which called on the Belarusian authorities to stop the persecution of Henadz Fiadynich and Ihar Komlik.