Tax department to inspect HR activist Stefanovich

On 17 November, lawyer of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Valiantsin Stefanovich received a demand to submit an income and property declaration to the Belarusian Tax Ministry.

The activist is expected to provide the papers by November 30, despite the fact he has already submitted a declaration in March 2010.

During the 2008 parliamentary election, similar demands were received by the leaders of the “Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections” campaign Ales Bialiatski and Aleh Hulak. Valiantsin Stefanovich’s has previously been forced to submit an income declaration for 10 years – between 1998 and 2008. The tax inspection also demands additional data for 2009.

‘The inspections seem to be timed to political campaigns. I, as a representative of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, have been involved in the election observation campaign. I surely attribute all this to my activities and view the incident as a means of harassment,’ says Valiantsin Stefanovich.

‘Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections’