Investigation into trade unions’ case renewed
The authorities have extended the investigation into the case of the REP trade union, the organization’s leader Henadz Fiadynich said quoting the new investigation team.
The period of preliminary investigation expired on February 2. However, before February 12, Henadz Fiadynich and Ihar Komlik had no official information about the progress of the case.
In recent weeks, investigators across Belarus have questioned more than 250 REP activists (the union has challenged the legality of these interrogations to the Prosecutor's Office). The office equipment seized during the searches of August 2 has not yet been returned to the trade union.
On August 2, financial police raided two offices of the REP trade union, as well as the apartments of the union’s chairman Henadz Fiadynich and chief accountant Ihar Komlik.
Later, both faced criminal charges under Part 2, Article 243 of the Criminal Code (large-scale tax evasion).
Ihar Komlik was in detention for two months, while Fiadynich is under travel restrictions.
Last November, Henadz Fiadynich was not allowed to attend a meeting in Geneva at the invitation of the IndustriALL Global Union, which guaranteed Fiadynich’s timely return to Belarus.
In mid-December, the period of investigation was extended to February 2, 2018.
