Vaukavysk Hunger-Strikers Stop their Protest

On 15 April Vaukavysk hunger-strikers, the businessman Mikalai Autukhovich who went on hunger strike 31 days ago, drivers and their supporters decided to stop their protest. The authorities did not wholly grant the demands of the action participants, however, they believe that they have won, because the cars owned by Nika-trans, which were suspended for more than three months, can now be used as taxis.

The fine awarded to the Nika-trans company for violation of settlement procedures and receipt of funds continues to be in force (more than 440 million rubles). This fine has been legalized by the ruling of the Supreme Economic Court. Also, the Taxation Ministry adopted a regulation saying the company has not paid taxes on the money which the Nika-trans taxi drivers by employed by Autukhovich received and handed over to the businessman during 2003 and 2004. This tax together with the fine itself and the penalty amounts to more than 1 billion and 813 million rubles.