13 November, 2008IMF calls for an immediate and transparent investigation into the recent assaults and threats against ITUA leaders and activists.
RUSSIA: Alarming news was received from the Russian Interregional Trade Union of Autoworkers (ITUA), an affiliate of the International Metalworkers' Federation regarding a recent attack against Alexey Etmanov, ITUA co-chairman and chairman of the ITUA primary organization at Ford enterprise in Vsevolozhsk.
Etmanov was assaulted on the evening of November 8 when he returned home from the second shift at the Ford plant. He parked his car and was walking in the direction of his home. On the street, three assailants armed with brass knuckles ran towards Etmanov and without a word assaulted him.
During the scuffle Etmanov managed to remove his rubber bullet gun and made a shot. The assailants escaped. Originally, Etmanov believed these were ordinary robbers. However the next day the deputy chairman of Etmanov, Vladimir Lesik, received a call on his mobile phone and was alerted that the night incident had no relation to a robbery or a plunder. "You were softly scolded. But if you continue to create obstacles for us, we will take away your life", threatened the anonymous caller.
Earlier, on June 24 and July 26, Alexei Gramm and Sergei Bryzgalov, activists of the ITUA primary organization at Taganrog enterprise OAO "TagAZ" producing Hyundai cars, also became victims of assault after their participation in a picket at the entrance of the enterprise. Gramm and Bryzgalov were trying to get information about wages and compensations as well as demanding management to recognize their union.
In a statement regarding the assaults, IMF General Secretary Marcello Malentacchi warned of IMF's grave concern over "the authorities' indifference to violations of fundamental human and labour rights and the failure to act promptly and effectively to ensure these rights are fully upheld and protected" and demanded "an immediate, unbiased and transparent investigation into the facts of attacks against trade union leaders Alexei Etmanov, Alexei Gramm and Sergei Bryzgalov, as well as the death threats made to Vladimir Lesik".
Click here to read the full text of the statement.
IMF is urging affiliates to send letters calling for an immediate and transparent investigation into these attacks to:
Mr. Chaika Yuriy
General Public Prosecutor of Russian Federation
125993, Moscow, GSP-3, 15a B. Dimitrovka str.
RUSSIA
Fax: +7 (495) 692-96-00
Mr. Romanyuk Sergey
Public Prosecutor of Leningrad region
194044, Saint- Petersburg,
av. Lesnoi, str. 20, kor. 12
RUSSIA
Fax: +7 812 542 00 15
Mr. Kuznetsov Valeriy
Public Prosecutor of Rostov region
344082, Rostov region
Rostov-na-Donu, per. Bratskiy, 11
RUSSIA
Fax: +7 863 262-45-25
Ms. Golikova A. Tatiana
Minister of Health Care and Social Development
127994, GSP-4, Moscow, per. Rahmanovskiy, 3
RUSSIA
Fax: +7 495 628 09 48
To send solidarity support letters to the ITUA, email: [email protected]