Council of ministers is untouchable

• 5.10.2007, 14:42

The Supreme Economic Court dismissed a complaint of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee against the Council of Ministers and Ministry of Finance. The Council of Ministers spokesman didn’t appear on the processing of the complaint, Radio Svaboda reported.

It should be reminded that 3 years ago the Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC) was imposed taxes because they received foreign aid within the Tacis programme. Meanwhile this aid hadn’t been taxed before. The authorities explained the innovation by changes in tax law adopted by the parliament.

The BHC property was arrested and valued at 250.000 rubles. But the main thing is that the court rendered a decision to collect 155 billion rubles of taxes and tax penalties. As BHC had not the necessary sum, their account was blocked and a criminal case was bought up against the BHC leadership. The case was closed, but BHC chairman Tatsiana Protska doesn’t exclude it can be reopened at any moment.