Convicted leaders of the dockers' union are recognized as political prisoners

The Human Rights Center “Memorial” has recognized Leonid Tikhonov, head of the dockers' trade union in Nakhodka, and Natalia Bondareva, chief accountant of the trade union, as political prisoners. This is stated in a statement published on May 5 on the organization's website.

In December 2014, Natalya Bondareva was sentenced to two months, and Tikhonov to three and a half years in prison on charges of embezzlement and misappropriation of funds allocated by the Vostochny Port organization to the trade union committee for New Year's gifts and organizing recreation for their employees. Tikhonov pleaded not guilty and linked the persecution to his activities aimed at raising wages and maintaining jobs.

The circumstances of the case testify to his connection with the active social activities of Tikhonov and the trade union headed by him, claims Memorial. In particular, it is emphasized that neither the Russian Trade Union of Dockers, nor OJSC "Vostochny Port" during the investigation and trial revealed the misuse of funds and did not recognize themselves as victims of the actions of the accused. Union members who appeared in court as witnesses for the defense claimed to have received gifts and denied embezzlement, but the court took into account only the testimony of witnesses for the prosecution.

The persecution of Leonid Tikhonov and Natalya Bondareva "looks like part of a campaign to destroy the independent trade union organization of Vostochny Port OJSC, initiated by the administration of the enterprise," the conclusion of Memorial says, "both trade union activists should be immediately released, the conviction against them - was canceled, and the case itself was closed due to the lack of corpus delicti.

Leaders of the union of dockers from Nakhodka recognized as political prisoners