نخلة

Dozens of factory workers in Syria were beaten and arrested by Russian military police after staging a demonstration against their company’s Russian investor.

Workers of a fertiliser factory in Homs had protested against a Russian investor in their company, calling for a reduction of working hours and salary increases.

The factory’s disgruntled management then called in Russian military police, present in Syria since 2016, Jorf News reported to disperse the protest with dozens of workers reportedly beaten by the military police.

They were then arrested and taken to the Hmeimim military base in Latakia, the main base for Russian troops and aircraft in Syria, according to Syria Call.

The Syrian regime signed a contract with Stroytransgaz in November last year, granting the Russian company the right to exploit Syria’s sole fertiliser company, General Fertilisers Company (GFC), for 25 to 40 years. The Syrian regime is given 35 percent of the factory’s revenues, in return.

Stroytransgaz is majority owned by Gennady Timchenko, a billionaire tycoon in the energy industry and a key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.