Belarusian Helsinki Committee received second warning
The Ministry of Justice issued the second
warning to the Belarusian Helsinki Committee this year, allegedly because of
“continuous violations of the tax legislation”.
The authorities demand that the BHC paid more than 205 million of rubles in
fines and taxes concerning the grants issued to it by the European Commission
in 2002-2003, thought this aid was exempt from taxes according to international
agreements. Moreover, more than 30 public associations were financed by the
European Commission, but taxes were imposed just on 2 of them.
The BHC considers the ruling of the inspection of the Ministry of Dues and
Taxes as unlawful and appealed it at court. The court confirmed that the human
rights defenders didn't need to pay anything.
However, on the eve of the presidential elections 2006 the Presidium of the
Supreme Economic Court reviewed the case. As a result, the BHC assets were
confiscated and the accounts were arrested.
At the same time, in 2006 the Financial Investigation Department of the State
Control Committee dropped the criminal case against the BHC because of the
absence of corpus delicti in actions of its officers.
But now the Ministry of Justice orders the BHC to liquidate its “debt” within a
month's term.
The first warning was issued to the organization 12 January 2011 after it had
Gabriela Knaul, the UN Special Rapporteur on independence of judges and
lawyers, with statement about pressurization of counsels, particularly those
who defended participants of the 19 December post-election rally.
On 12 March the Supreme Court of Belarus left the warning in force.
According to the Belarusian legislation, a civil association can be dissolved
through court after receiving two warnings within one year.
