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Leanid Sudalenka: Hell Is Around The Corner

Leanid Sudalenka: Hell Is Around The Corner

The authorities will not be able to control rebellious people.

Lukashenka is scared to death of civilian riots. And the Trade Union's case proves it.

Legal inspector of the Independent Trade Union of Radio and Electronic Industry (REP) of the Homel region Leanid Sudalenka stated that to Charter97.org while commenting on the verdict pronounced for Henadz Fyadynich and Ihar Komlik on August 24.

- Everyone had no doubt that the verdict requested by the prosecutor would barely differ from the announced one. I personally expected 3.5 years in an open type institution: the practice shows that the judge usually decreases the term requested by the prosecutor.

I can say that it was a strict verdict, it is of political nature. It's obvious that the verdict was adopted out of the conference room.

By its very nature, "home arrest" is really strict verdict. Human's rights suffer a lot. This is the same deprivation of liberty but with reprieve. Within four years Henadz Fyadynich and Ihar Komlik will be subject to stiff restrictions: fixed route - house-work place - in the daytime, tray at home at night and the week-end. At any time the corrective service can visit them. God forbid, if they find out any violation.

In case of "violations" the measure of restraint can be changed and REP leaders can be placed in the holding cell with a subsequent resentence.

In addition, "home arrest" permits special devices aimed to control location of the convicted. To say nothing of traveling abroad or to other cities, or active participation in Trade Union's life - it will not be allowed within four years.

I'd like to stress one more time that this verdict is also of the political nature.

It is worth remembering that some episodes of the Trade Union's activity have become the subject of litigation. One can assume that there will be another criminal case against REP leaders.

- Why has it been decided to damage REP Trade Union?

- Nowadays, it is the most effective structure of the civil society. I completely agree with independent journalist Iryna Khalip who said that REP had become the true leader.

Being the member of this organization, I'd like to say that 95% of trials we win. It means that rights of working people are under protection. Of course, the authorities do not like it. They are afraid of growing popularity of REP leaders among workers.

"Parasite" rallies of 2017 are noteworthy; the Trade Union supported and ran people's protests.

You can google "REP Trade Union" and you will definitely see headlines "won", "defended", and so on.

There are so many people who were injured at work place and appealed to the Trade Union when an employee wanted to pass it off as off-the-job injury. I considered such cases. We helped people to restore their rights and get compensation 5-6 years after a conflict.

The Trade Union works perfectly, and that's the reason why the authorities have brought down the hammer of their repressive machine.

Lack of evidence and heavy pressure on the part of civil society - I'd like to thank those people who were present in the courtroom and covered events in the independent media - made the authorities refrain from the verdict related to imprisonment. The authorities are afraid both of the Trade Union's activity and Belarusian and international solidarity. If REP leaders are imprisoned, it will bear severe consequences for the regime.

- You've told that the authorities are afraid of the Trade Union itself and consequences of their own repressions against it. What is the reason of these fears?

- The authorities afraid that people take to streets. That's why people's sentiments are under strict control. It means objective sentiments not showed on TV screens.

The authorities got lost when people took to streets in 2017. I also participated in those events.

Last February 17, Homel, more than 3 thousand people took to the streets and the authorities were confused. That was the largest rally over the past 20 years. That day the initiative took the side of people. Everyone could express his opinion that day.

Of course, the authorities later responded with administrative cases, but, I stress, that day the initiative took the side of people. We could see how lost "mayor" and the chief of police looked. I remember that day Lukashenka negotiated with Putin upon other credit in Sochi...

Social upheavals are the thing Lukashenka does not want the most. The authorities will not be able to control rebellious people. If 20-25 thousand people take to streets of Minsk due to some reason, the authorities will not know what to do. It is one thing to get tough with 1.5 thousand activists who can be later blackmailed by official media, it is the other thing to disperse people who cannot stand it anymore.

Lukashenka is scared to death of civilian riots. And the Trade Union's case proves it. As it was once said, hell is just around the corner. 2019 and 2020 will be really tough, especially in a political sense. It's the time of parliamentary and presidential "elections", and Lukashenka has lost almost all his electorate. 10% pension increase is his last resort before election campaigns. I guess he will not be able to afford this in the near future.

All these aspects prove the current situation. Autumn will bring many problems to the authorities, as we can see that Russia increases oil prices and does not allocate sums required. The IMF will grant credits only in case of tough and unpopular reforms. It's a vicious circle. What is a way out? And it explains the "Trade Union's case".

- During court hearings international Trade Unions proposed to impose sanctions against Lukashenka's regime. Is there any chance for them to be imposed after the sentence?

- This is the judgment of conviction. And it gives the ground for sanctions. Of course, our Trade Union will do its best to promote international sanctions against the regime. The authorities understand only the position of strength.

If we show our weakness and accept the verdict, it will be a great mistake. The verdict seriously restricts freedom of Henadz Fyadynich and Ihar Komlik on the eve of great events. In addition to four years in an open type institution, REP leaders will not be able to hold senior positions for other 5 years.

Now Hendz Fyadynich is 61 years old. It means that he will be 70 years old when he is reinstated. The authorities knew what to do. They knew that Fyadynich was becoming popular among ordinary people and, perhaps, would try hand at policy.

But we will keep fighting.

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