Belarusian Trade Unions Defend Russian Colleagues From Libel On Belarusian TV :: Charter'97 :: News

On April 3 Belarusian trade union of automobile and agriculture vehicle building industry that is the largest trade union in the country, has made a declaration about “groundless accusations against Russian colleagues” in the programs of the Belarusian TV (BT). “This time, - the declaration reads – the Federation of Independent trade unions of Russia (FITR) and its chair Mikhail Shmakov were targeted”.

On April 1 the state Belarusian TV channel severely criticized the actions of the FITR. The activists of this trade union federation “on March 28 picketed Belarusian Embassy in Moscow, protesting against violations of trade unions’ rights in Belarus”. In the statement of the Belarusian trade unions they underline that “the familiar set of absolutely unsubstantiated accusations was voiced against the FITR. These accusations are based on lies, libel, misrepresentation of facts”. The authors of the declaration demand the Belarusian government, which, according to the Belarusian trade union, prompted disinformation of the citizens of the country, an official refutation of the “unjustified facts about FITR”.