Supreme Economic Court Turns down BHC Suit

The Supreme Economic Court rejected a complaint of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee against the Soviet of Ministers and the Ministry of Finances. The Soviet of Ministers’ spokesman didn’t appear on the processing of the complaint, RFE/RL reported.

Bear in mind that 3 years ago the Belarusian Helsinki Committee was imposed taxes because they received foreign aid within the TACIS program. 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 rule out that it can be reopened at any moment.