The WFTU publishes the following solidarity statement signed by several trade unions for the release of journalist Pablo Gonzalez and calls upon the trade unions to express their solidarity:
Trade union solidarity with journalist Pablo Gonzalez unjustly detained in Poland
Basque journalist Pablo Gonzalez was arrested on 28 February in Poland while covering the effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on charges of carrying out activities for Russian military intelligence, for which he could face up to ten years in prison.
On 23 August, the Rzeszów Court of Appeal rejected the complaint filed by Pablo Gonzalez’s lawyer in Poland against the decision to extend the Basque journalist’s detention for a further three months.
Until today, he is still being held solitary confinement in practice. His family has requested permission to visit him in prison, but to date has not received any official response, nor has telephone contact been allowed during these six months. Since Pablo Gonzalez’s arrest, he has only received five letters from his family, and all of them very late. So far he has only been able to contact his lawyer and the Spanish State Consul.
The trade unions signing this letter, as expressed by the International Federation and the European Federation of Journalists and the International Press Institute, are deeply concerned about the situation of journalist Pablo Gonzalez; a deeply anti-democratic and unjust situation, which becomes more critical with each passing day.
The undersigned trade unions therefore call on the Polish authorities to release Pablo Gonzalez without further delay and without charge. We find it unacceptable that a state should detain a journalist in such an arbitrary manner and without any evidence. It is an attack on press freedom and democracy and we, therefore, urge both the Spanish state and the European Union to do everything in their hands to put an end to this injustice once and for all.
September 7th 2022
List of signatory trade unions
Alternativa Sindical de Clase, ASC
Central Unitaria de Trabajadoras CUT Galiza
Colectivo Unitario de Trabajadores CUT Aragón
Comisiones Obreras, CCOO
Confederación Intersindical
Confederación Intersindical Galega, CIG
Confederación Nacional del Trabajo, CGT
Confederación Nacional del Trabajo CNT
Confederación Sindical Solidaridad Obrera
Coordinadora Obrera Sindical COS Països Catalans
Corrientes Sindical de Izquierda, CSI Asturies
ELA Sindikatua Euskal Herria
ESK Sindikatua Euskal Herria
Intersindical Alternativa de Catalunya, IAC
Intersindical Canaria
Intersindical Catalana
Intersindical Valenciana
LAB Sindikatua Euskal Herria
Organización Sindical de Trabajadores de Aragón OSTA
Plataforma Sindicat EMT
Sindicato 25 De Marzo de Extremadura
Sindicato Andaluz de Trabajadores SAT Andalucia
Sindicato Asambleario de la Sanidad SAS
STEI Intersindical (Illes Balears)
STEILAS Euskal Herria
Unión General de Trabajadores, UGT
Unión Sindical Obrera, USO
Source: WFTU