On Sunday 9 of March at about 1.30 p.m. in the premises of the BKDP the police detained 32 young activists of the Free Metalworkers’ Union (SPM) and the Belarusian Free Trade Union (SPB). They gathered together by the agreement with the BKDP leadership to greet and congratulate their girls-colleagues on the occasion of the International Women’s Day and to discuss further actions on recruiting new members into the independent unions.

          The BKDP leaders Alexander Yaroshuk and Nikolai Kanakh greeted the young trade union activists and congratulated young girl-activists with their holiday. One hour later after the trade union leaders have left the office 10 persons of the law enforcement agency has descended upon the premise. Although the door was closed the persons dressed in the police uniform, in the uniform of the special task force as well as in the citizen’s clothes demanded to open it and threaten to smash it. Unexpected guests claimed that they have received a “signal” from the residents of this house, where the BKDP has its office, that allegedly litter and garbage (paper and bottles) was thrown away from the windows. The police and accompanying persons urged the young activists to proceed to the police station. The young people refused to obey the order and declared that they would stay in the office until the arrival of the BKDP leadership. Nikolai Kanakh came to the office in the middle of it.

             ---  I claimed to the police that they have brutally violated the law by entering the trade union premises without the sanction of the procurator or decision of the court, ---- Nikolai Kanakh narrates. I said that this is a planned trade union event and all the participants are the members of either SPM or SPB unions affiliated with the BKDP. I suggested to perform the procedure of identification of the young people in the office but the police refused to do it and have taken the young people into the custody in a special police van. Later when I was leaving the office I walked around the house and, of course, could not find the garbage or bottles around”.

All detained young activists were taken to Leninski district police station of Minsk, where they were kept for several hours. After the “identity of persons” was established the young people were released after 4 p.m.

             ---- This happening once again showed how trade union rights in this country are respected and how responsible is the approach of the Government of Belarus towards the implementation of the 12 recommendations of the International labor organization (ILO), -- Alexanderr Yaroshuk is commenting. – In fear of growing authority of the BKDP which has already recruited hundreds of young people, the officials once again have decided to interfere into trade union affairs. They were not even stopped by the fact that now the ILO regular Governing Body session is being held in Geneva and the “Belarusian case” will be discussed. For sure, today we shall inform the ILO and the International Confederation of Trade Union (ITUC) of this incident”.

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