In May 2005 Kolovanov participated in a conference organised by Siberian Confederation Of Labor (syndicalist union). After that conference he started publishing and distributing a newspaper calling for creation of independent trade unions. Kolovanov had some experience with samizdat (self-published press) before - while in university he published a zine called "Kuda idesh?" (Where do you go?).

In the morning on 25th of November cops and the plant's security service (their presence of course was illegal) raided Kolovanov's flat, searching for papers. Kolovanov was taken to the police station where they have been interrogating him for 10 hours. Alexandr was there after having worked 3 night shifts so his psychological and mental condition was not very good. The cops and people from FSB (state security service) told him that his case is controlled by the plant's director Igor Grinberg, who is at the same time second main person in the Edinaya Rossiya party (United Russia, Putin's party) in the Irkutsk region. Alexandr was even told that his group can be accused of terrorism. In fact his only "crime" was a wish to create a small independent union and join the Siberian Confederation Of Labor.

The paper published by Kolovanov is called "Shelekhov Worker". There were 400 papers printed, 170 of them were seized by cops and security services.

After getting these news many people and labor organisatons from Russia wrote protest letters to the plant and Shelekhov town administration. Then one of the managers of the plant contacted Kolovanov, asking him to quit the job at his own will. (a widespread practice in Russia) Kolovanov refused, then he was told that he will be fired.

We are calling all the active people to start actions in defence of Alexandr Kolovanov.

Please send protest leters to the following addresses:

SUAL Holding - sual (at) sual.com
And also though their website - www.sual.ru/contacts/feedback/

Irkutsk Aluminium Plant
Industrial’naya str. 4A, Shelekhov, Irkutsk region, 666034, Russia
Phone: ( 7 39510) 9-26-34
www.sual.ru/business/aluminium/structure/aluminium/irkaz/

SUAL Office in Moscow
Phone: ( 7 095) 933-02-00
Fax: ( 7 095) 933-02-01

The website of Siberian Confederation Of Labour - www.skt.org.ru