We Will Stand up for Rights of a Working Man, Mikhail Sashko Says

Activists collect signatures under a letter demanding to stop persecution of independent Trade Union of Radio and Electronic Industry (REP).

Representatives of public organizations and political parties of Slonim began collecting signatures under the letter to Lukashenka demanding an immediate release of a political prisoner Ihar Komlik and termination of the criminal prosecution of the leader of the independent REP Trade Union Henadz Fyadynich.

The letter says that actions of the authorities are aimed at destruction of the independent trade union movement in Belarus, Radio Svaboda reports.

Activist Mikhail Sashko, who collects signatures under the letter to Lukashenka, is convinced that actions of the authorities are revenge for an active civil position and protection of social and economic interests of the working people.

- Independent Trade Unions are the only and probably the last organization whose members defended the rights of a simple working man. They provided great assistance to people... It disturbs bureaucrats a lot, they are not accustomed to summons. It is clear that they are in a hurry to "end up" with members of trade unions, Sashko says.

The letter stresses that the Belarusian authorities grossly violated International Labour Organisation Convention No. 87 "On Freedom of Association". And authors of the letter demand the immediate release of Ihar Komlik, the termination of persecution of Henadz Fyadynich and the removal of groundless accusations on them.

Copies of the appeal will also be sent to the Minister of Internal Affairs Ihar Shunevich, as well as to the Prosecutor General of Belarus Aliaksandr Kanyuk.

It will be recalled that On August 2 the office of the Trade Union was searched, as a result all hard disks were seized, the office of the REP Trade Union, personal property of Henadz Fyadynich and Ihar Komlik were arrested. A criminal case on "evasion of payment of taxes, fees in especially large amounts" is initiated against Fyadynich and Komlik. Ihar Komlik is still behind bars.