Activists of the Belarusian Free Trade Union of "Połacak-Fiberglass" Victor Stukov and Mikola Sharah appealed to the Viciebsk regional court.
Recall trials union leaders took place on May 16 in Połacak. Both awarded penalties for participation in an unsanctioned picket, Mikola Sharakh also fined for disobeying police.
Picket, for participation in which fined the local leaders of the BFTU, was held to inform residents of the city on the dismissal of Mikola Sharah. In his opinion, the conditions for the non-renewal of the contract have been created artificially, and are a manifestation of discrimination on grounds of membership in independent trade unions.
The action, which took place in Połacak on 28 April was held as a trade union event. Therefore, according to the applicant, Victor Stukov, permission to carry it out with the local authorities to ask did not have to: in accordance with Article 3 rd International Labor Organization Convention number 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, public authorities have no right to interfere with trade union activities in any form, including during mass events. Nevertheless, the organizers sent a message to the executive committee of his intentions, but received no reply.
At the trial it became clear that the response of the executive committee allegedly expelled, and there was a ban on holding a picket. However, activists have not received the letter.
"We decided that the executive committee is silent – it means, I agree with the fact that in Belarus the local authorities act in accordance with international law", – says Mr. Stukov. The Court disagreed with the argument that the reference to Article 3 rd Convention of the International Labour Organisation are entitled to organize pickets, without asking permission of the executive committee, and Judge Julia Kolosovskaya has decided to fine the head of "the primary" enterprise "Połacak-Fiberglass" Victor Stukov in the amount of 5,250,000 rubles.
Even more fine – 6 million 300 thousand rubles – A judge Vitaly Lapko sentenced Mikola Sharah. Except for participation in an unsanctioned rally, an activist was punished for allegedly disobeying police officers who forcibly detained him in the stairwell of his house without introducing themselves and presenting official certificates. In the court policemen Sergei Bogumirsky and Igor Skarabahaty denied this fact – have argued that the documents showed, but Mikola Sharah "turned away and closed his eyes, not to see". The policeman Sergei Bogumirsky rejected and the court that Mikola Sharah refused the request to call a lawyer, stating that "it is allowed only in cases of criminal cases". But the court refused to make a request to the police to have sent out a record video cameras installed in the room where Sharah were a protocol, ignoring his right to counsel.
Facts irregularities in the trial and in the previous actions of the police, the BFTU activists Mikola Sharah and Victor Stukov outlined in the appeal. They believe that the decisions of the judges Kolosovskaya and Lapko were adopted without taking into account all the circumstances and should be abolished. Within the next month at the Viciebsk regional court held consideration of these complaints.
According to spring96.org
