Chairman Of Collective Farm, Where Schoolgirl Was Killed: I Don't Know What She Was Doing There

Chairman of farm "Voskhod-Agro" said he did not know that children arrived to harvest potatoes.

The chairman of farm "Voskhod-Agro" Aliaksandr Zhigarenka says that he didn't know that children arrived to harvest potatoes. This follows from his answer to the court, which is considering a lawsuit of the parents, requesting to establish the fact of the employment relationship between their daughter and the farm, where the eighth-grader died, Euroradio informs.

According to the farm chairman, a bucket of potatoes, which had to be given to Victoria Papchenia,

does not indicate a payment.

He also claimed that everyone willing could join the works in the field.

We remind, the accident happened on September 29. A 13-year-old schoolgirl Victoria Papchenia harvested the potatoes with her classmates. A MAZ vehicle ran over her and the girl died of injuries.

The trial takes place in Maladechna District Court, where the girl's parents strive for recognizing the incident an accident at work. Only court can make such decision, since according to the Belarusian law employment relationship begins only from the age of 14.

The parents of the deceased insist that she was hired and the farm promised to pay her a bucket of potatoes for one day of work. The Trade Union of Radio-Electronic Industry Workers is helping the girl’s parents stand up for their rights.