A Minsk court considered the appeal by the arrested trade union activist Ihar Komlik.
In the appeal, he asked to change the measure of restraint. Komlik believes that his being remanded in custody during the investigation is groundless and not necessary, the human rights center Viasna reports.
But judge Natallya Dzyadkova decided that the preventive measure had been elected legally and reasonably because Ihar Komlik is charged with an enormous offence. She left the decision of the Deputy Prosecutor General unchanged and failed to uphold the appeal.
Komlik’s defense lawyer is going to appeal against the decision.
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 activists of the Independent Trade Union of Radio Electronic Industry (REP) Henadz Fyadynich and chief accountant Ihar Komlik who were accused of tax evasion. The both may face up to seven years in prison and confiscation of property.
According to Henadz Fyadynich, the case initiated against is nothing but retaliation for their civic activity during spring ‘non-parasite’ protests.
belsat.eu, following HRC Viasna
