Trade Union Leader From Germany: I Am Astonished Such Trial Could Actually Take Place

The REP trade union is an organization that works really well.

A break has been announced in the trial against the leaders of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union of the Radio Electronic Industry Workers (REP) Henadz Fiadynich and Ihar Komlik. The trial will be resumed on August 24, when the verdict in the "trade unions case" will be pronounced, the "Viasna" human rights center writes. Representatives of the global union IndustriALL, whose affiliate organization is the REP trade union, watch every hearing in the case.

On August 17, the court was attended by the leader of the trade union IG Metall (Germany), the observer of the global union IndustriALL Gabriela Ibrom.

The spokeswoman for the global union IndustriALL commented on the court session, which she happened to attend:

"I am generally astonished that such a trial could actually be happening. The REP is an organization that really works and works well, we do not understand the reasons why this process is going on. Today I heard in court that there were no important reasons for bringing the case to the court, and I saw no reasons for that during the trial either."

Gabriela Ibrom says that pressure on trade unions in other countries also takes place, but not in such a brutal form:

"In the history of Germany, too, there was pressure on the unions, and in other countries as well, but not in such a tough form. I realized that they did not pay taxes... In Germany, trade unions do not pay taxes, because these are non-profit organizations..."

Important to note, Henadz Fiadynich was detained on August 2, 2017. Searches were carried out at his apartment and at the place of work, information carriers and documents were seized. The office of the organization was arrested.

Later, Fiadynich was released under a written undertaking not to leave the country. Ihar Komlik was detained since August 2, 2017 till October 2, 2017. He was also released from the remand prison under a written non-leave undertaking.

With regard to Henadz Fiadynich and Ihar Komlik, the prosecutor requests a punishment in the form of restriction of freedom without sending to an open type institution for 5 years with confiscation of property and a ban on holding senior positions for 5 years.