The case of the activists of the Independent Trade Union of Radio Electronic Industry (REP) Henadz Fyadynich and Ihar Komlik has been extended to February 2, 2018.
Komlik was informed of the extension by an investigator, he told Radio Racyja.
The case is known to be about Belarusian trade unions’ activity in 2011. The case was opened by the Financial Investigation Department of the State Control Committee, now it is under control of the Belarusian Investigative Committee. The activists are regularly summoned for questioning. Komlik and Fyadynich keep pleading not guilty.
According to Komlik, the investigators want to get the list of the REP activists, which, in his opinion, is not up to them.
“It is a criminal case, but the fact above may turn it a political one,” Komlik stressed.
On August 2, the Minsk and Salihorsk offices of two key opposition trade unions were raided by the Department of Financial Investigations. Computers, hard drives were seized; the law enforcers were looking for documents. According to the investigation, trade union activists regularly traveled abroad to withdraw money from accounts in foreign accounts and bring them to Belarus.
A criminal case was initiated against the head of the Independent Trade Union of Radio Electronic Industry (REP) Henadz Fyadynich and chief accountant Ihar Komlik who were accused of tax evasion. Fyadynich was released on his own recognizance; Komlik spent 2 months in jail and walked free in October. However, the both still may face up to seven years in prison and confiscation of property.
According to Henadz Fyadynich, the case initiated is nothing but retaliation for their civic activity during spring ‘non-parasite’ protests.
belsat.eu
