Fiadynich Asked Permission To Attend Sunday Services In Church

Employees of Tsentralny district enforcement department got very indignant when they learned about the request of the REP trade union leader.

The REP trade union leader, Hennadz Fiadynich, who is now serving his sentence at the place of residence, has written a letter to the head of the Tsentralny district police department with a request to allow him attending the church on Sunday.

“Employees of Tsentralny district enforcement department got very indignant when they learned about my request,” – Hennadz Fiadynich told palitviazni.info site.

On November 9 last year, REP trade union leaders Hennadz Fiadynich and Ihar Komlik appealed in Minsk city court the judgment of August 24, 2018, according to which they had been found guilty under Part 2 of Article 243 of the Criminal Code (tax evasion on a large scale).

The Savietski district court had sentenced the REP trade union leaders to 4 years of restraint of liberty without sending them to an open type institution. The Minsk City Court upheld the decision of the district court.

The restrictions with respect to Ihar Komlik took effect from 19 December last year, to Hennadz Fiadynich – from January 4 this year.

“As you know, the person who is serving the sentence at the place of residence, has to stay at home at the weekend, – Fiadynich says. – But I, for example, want to attend the church on Sunday. Why do I not have this right? Therefore, I’ve sent a statement to the head of the Tsentralny district police department.”

Fiadynich wrote in his statement: “Due to the fact that I am a believer, and since in the period of service of punishment I need spiritual support, please provide me with the opportunity to attend the Orthodox church of St. Peter and Paul. Visiting the temple is necessary for participation in worships on Sundays. On this basis, I ask permission to leave my home from 9.00 to 12.00.”

In the words of the trade union leader, he had a conversation with the head of the Tsentralny district enforcement department.

“He even got indignant that I had submitted such a request, – Fiadynich continues. – He says, I do not want to follow the regime of serving the sentence, and therefore cover up by the church. They have got used to the fact that their “clients” have no rights and must bow down to those who oversee them. But I know my rights, and I will insist that they observed them.”

Fiadynich adds: “If they do not allow me attending the church, I will appeal to the prosecutor's office.”