On Friday, March 5, representatives of law enforcement agencies interrupted an event of the registered Free Trade Union of Belarus and the student trade union organization “LISA” in the business club IMAGURU. The law-enforcers detained about 30 people, most of whom were later released. However, four students were sent to the TDF.
On Sunday, the students’ cases were heard in a Minsk court. All students were convicted for disobedience to a lawful order or demand of a state official under Article 24.3 of the Administrative Code.
Uladzislau Kalkou, Sofia Marhunova and Stanislau Seniukevich were sentenced to 15 days of arrest. Krystyna Miranenka received 14 days in jail.
Among the participants of the event and the detainees were members of the main composition of the Coordinating Council Andrei Yahorau and Vital Rymasheuski, who commented on these events as follows:
“What happened is not just lawlessness, but also a great folly, because the union acts exclusively in the legal field.”
The coordinating council said that the Free Trade Union of Belarusians together with its lawyers would appeal these decisions. All information will be passed to international organizations, including the International Labor Organization.
