"On June 5, shortly after ten in the morning, black-clad officers stormed into the House of Trade Unions. The symbolic building on the Maidan, Kyiv's Independence Square, is the headquarters of the country's largest trade union federation, the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine (FPU). The roughly 30 officers ordered the union employees to pack their things. The House of Trade Unions, they stated, has been confiscated. Employees and journalists were stopped outside, prevented from entering the building-by force if necessary."
"Behind the operation was the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA), a state body responsible for securing and managing assets linked to corruption. In tow that day were heavily armed security forces and the new private property management company selected by ARMA. The raid was not an isolated incident but part of a deepening confrontation between the government and the country's unions. International union federations criticized that the seizure was part of a broader pattern of repression, including intimidation, criminal investigations, and legislative attacks."
"ARMA justified its action with corruption allegations. Between 2016 and 2018, union officials had allegedly embezzled FPU real estate and personally profited from it. On this basis, the agency seized not only the House of Trade Unions but also numerous other FPU buildings. In April, law enforcement authorities arrested the FPU president, Grygorii Osovyi, along with four other officials. Osovyi has been under house arrest ever since."
On June 5 shortly after 10 a.m., black-clad officers entered the House of Trade Unions on Maidan and ordered employees to pack belongings, declaring the building confiscated and blocking entry to employees and journalists. About 30 officers participated, accompanied by heavily armed security forces and a private property management company chosen by the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA). ARMA cited alleged embezzlement of FPU real estate between 2016 and 2018 and seized multiple union buildings. In April, law enforcement arrested FPU president Grygorii Osovyi and four officials; Osovyi remains under house arrest. International union federations criticized the operation as part of a broader pattern of repression including intimidation, investigations, and legislative attacks.
Read at The Nation
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