Russia has branded the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) a threat to its “constitutional order.”
The country’s Prosecutor General’s Office said it has declared the seafarers’ union “undesirable” following its alleged pro-Western stance on the Ukraine war.
This status could restrict the operations of the ITF and its staff in Russia, and could even lead to prosecutions.
The findings were announced after an audit, according to the RG website.
The report recognises the ITF as the world's oldest trade union organisation of European seafarers and dockers, founded in London back in 1896.
The prosecutor’s office said there are 4.8m members around the world and an office in Moscow.
But the office said that since the beginning of the war, ITF leaders, who it says are UK and Australian citizens, took a “sharply” anti-Russia position, openly condemning the country’s actions.
“Moreover, in 2022, instead of helping dockers and sailors, this supposedly independent trade union was actively engaged, following the example of Great Britain, in promoting anti-Russian sanctions in as many countries as possible,” the report said.
The prosecutor alleged this affected the ability of Russian ships to trade.
And ITF-affiliated dockers were also said to have disrupted loading or unloading operations.
A further claim is that the union raised $500,000 to help Ukraine in its fight against Russia, as well as publishing material that creates a negative image of Russia overseas.
Posing a threat?
“Thus, with its activities, the foreign international non-governmental organisation International Transport Workers Federation poses a threat to the constitutional order of the Russian Federation,” stated the Prosecutor General’s Office.
The ITF’s Seafarers Union of Russia website was showing “page not found” on Thursday.
The ITF has been contacted for comment.
Seafarers involved in trades to high-risk areas are usually offered additional payment through deals negotiated by the ITF and industry representatives.
The ITF’s global union federation should be right at the centre of any discussions to send seafarers back into Ukrainian ports, TradeWinds has argued.
