Hennadz Fiadynich: Whole World Knows About "Trade Unions’ Case"

The investigation of the high-profile case has been extended.

May 1 was the deadline for the preliminary investigation of the high-profile "trade unions’ case," but there is very little chance that it will be closed or suspended.

"Given that no one has informed us that the case is closed, it is obvious that it continues," – REP trade union accountant Ihar Komlik told palitviazni.info.

We remind that on August 2, 2017, Ihar Komlik was detained in the criminal case opened against him and REP trade union chairman Hennadz Fiadynich under Part 2 of Article 243 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (evasion of payment of taxes, fees in an especially large amount) . On October 2, Ihar Komlik was released from the detention center under a written undertaking not to leave the place, but the investigation went on.

"Perhaps, the investigation has been extended again for three months, – Ihar Komlik says. – If it is so, it will last exactly until the anniversary of its opening. But I personally have not been informed about the terms of the investigation, although, not so long ago, Fiadynich was summoned to the investigators and he was told that the investigation team had been expanded up to eight people, but it is obvious that it hadn’t been done in order to close the case as quickly as possible."

Hennadz Fiadynich cannot predict for how long the case is going to drag on.

"It may be drawn out to a great length, but they also may stop it at some point, – the REP trade union leader believes. – Everything is unpredictable here, and it seems to me that very little depends on the investigators. This is a politically motivated case, and the whole world knows this."

Not so long ago, a representative delegation of international trade unions came to Minsk, which met with representatives of the Belarusian authorities. Naturally, the issue of "trade unions’ case" was raised as well.

"In the near future, there will be a session of the International Labor Organization and, undoubtedly, international trade unions have their levers of influence over the Belarusian government, – Fiadynich adds. – We cannot pretend that everything is fine, when such pressure is put on the independent trade unions. If authorities are going to cooperate with the European Union, then they have to draw conclusions. However, there are lots of people in our union, who will continue to work in any case, because people need us."