Belarusian union leaders go on trial in case they call politically motivated
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 30 July 2018 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Belarusian union leaders go on trial in case they call politically motivated, 30 July 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5bc051b29.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
July 30, 2018 10:24 GMT
By RFE/RL's Belarus Service
Belarusian union leader Henadz Fyadynich gestures in court on July 30
MINSK – The leader of a prominent independent trade union that played a role in street protests in 2017 is being tried on tax-evasion charges he contends are politically motivated.
Henadz Fyadynich and union accountant Ihar Komlik arrived for the start of their trial at the Lenin District Court in Minsk on July 30 wearing white shirts adorned with traditional Belarusian-Ukrainian embroidery patterns, a symbol of patriotism.
Belarusian authorities laid charges in August 2017 against Fyadynich, Komlik, and the union, which represents electronics-industry workers.
Komlik was taken into pretrial custody but was released in October. He and Komlik were ordered not to leave Minsk while the investigation was under way.
Fyadynich denies guilt and says the case against him, his assistants, and the union is politically motivated punishment for the union's role in organizing protests in February-March 2017 against legislation that would impose a tax on the unemployed.
Critics of President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, the authoritarian leader who has held power in Belarus since 1994, says his government routinely uses the justice system to suppress dissent.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
