19 September 2002
Brest regional teachers' union leader resigns, accuses authorities of unprecedented interference in trade union affairs

 The Brest Regional Committee of the Belarusian Education and Science Workers Union (BESWU) on September 17 accepted the resignation of Nikolai Kovsh, who had headed the Committee for more than six years.
Speaking at the Committee's executive meeting, Mr. Kovsh said that he resigned in response to "the authorities' unprecedented and flagrant interference in trade union affairs." His resignation one day before a convention of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus (FTUB) appears to be a result of persistent efforts by the FTUB new boss, former
Presidential Administration Deputy Chief Leonid Kozik, to purge the Federation of disloyal elements. "I was told to quit before the trade union convention," Mr. Kovsh said. "The authorities get rid of dissidents who have their own position. It is a mistake to think that trade unions can stay united currying favor with the authorities. There will be no social partnership." Tamara Chebotova, chair of the BESWU National Committee, asked Mr. Kovsh to forgive her for her failure to defend
him. "You were an honest, uncompromising and creative leader," she said at the meeting. "You were a credit to your organization. There are not many leaders like you." The meeting participants approved the nomination of Viktor Kharitonovich, who has served as property manager with the Brest Regional Executive Committee in the last seven years,
for the position left vacant by Mr. Kovsh. Mr. Kharitonovich is the second representative of the authorities to infiltrate the leadership of the Brest Regional Trade Union Association (BRTUA) this year. In July, Nikolai Basalai, former chief of Brest's Moskovsky district administration, replaced Vladimir Mirochnik as chairman of the BRTUA.
Mr. Kovsh was regarded in the BRTUA as the last representative of the team of Vladimir Goncharik, former chairman of the FTUB who unsuccessfully challenged Aleksandr Lukashenko in the 2001 residential election. Mr. Goncharik stepped down as FTUB chairman in December 2001.