Zinaida Mikhnyuk: Lukashenka Feels Things Are Getting Hot for Him

The authorities can do nothing with the people's solidarity.

Around 200 activists of independent REP Trade Union have been interrogated in the fabricated "Trade Unions' case". How does the Trade Union manage to cope with the attack of the authorities? The representative of the REP in the Brest region Zinaida Mikhnyuk answers questions of Charter97.org:

- Now every activist of the REP Trade Union is summoned for interrogation. As soon as their neighbors and friends learn about it, they come to join the Trade Union. Our ranks are growing.

There is so much work, that I go to sleep at 5 am and already up at 6 am. Every person disturbed by the "Trade Unions' case" needs support. You know, investigators have already reached the letter "S" in their list. Today Volha Mikalaeuna Shutava, a former film director of the Brest television studio, has told an interesting story (film directors and operators once joined our Trade Union being against violations of payment for labour). And today she has received the call touching the "Trade Unions' case". She responded that she would come not to be interrogated but to agitate for accession to the REP Trade Union. Everything's possible in this life, and this is the only Trade Union which can provide assistance.

My response to these "investigators" are simple: prove me first that you're an investigator... According to the Constitution, there is the privilege against self incrimination. And we are not obliged to talk to them on the phone.

I, Zinaida Mikhnyuk, regional leader of the REP Trade Union in the Brest region and deputy of Henadz Fyadynich, remind "investigators": we protest against their actions and have already sent an appeal to the Prosecutor's Office.

You must know that people are proud of being the part of our Trade Union, they do respect our leader Henadz Fyadynich. You can't crack us down!

Sometimes people turn to me and wonder what to do. An investigator called them. In such cases I say: "You're a man, you must behave like a man (I receive calls on the matter mostly from men). I am a woman, and I am not afraid. Model yourself on our women: if a Belarusian woman starts doing something, she will do her best."

- Interrogation intensification on the "Trade Unions' case" and attack against the REP website have coincided with the blocking of "Charter-97". Why is this happening?

- I believe it means uselessness. The authority feels it's about to run dry. Lukashenka feels things are getting hot for him.

There was the reason to block "Charter-97". It's well-calibrated decision. They know that the Charter is read almost by every Belarusian family.

It is blocked, but people have already come up with methods to bypass it. I'm convinced that every family reads the Charter. I read it. My acquaintances read it. Last week I wrote "Good morning, friends! I'm the fortress, I fight". Due to the Charter, lots of strangers read it. And they were not only my friends on Facebook.

We work for a just cause, we will win! The number of our associates is increasing every day. We will meet in free Belarus!