Tax inspectors don't say who ordered to persecute human rights defender

The tax office of Homieĺ's Saviecki district cancelled its previous decision that Leanid Sudalenka must declare his income and assets.

The tax office also refused to say on the request of which government agency it has been persecuting the human rights activist for more than 15 years. It follows from a letter signed by deputy head of the tax office Andrei Siniukevich, the website Gomel Spring writes.

The tax office of the Saviecki district of Homieĺ ordered Leanid Sudalenka to file atax return for the last three years (2012, 2013 and 2014). In 2012, his wife, mother in law and adult son, who was in the army at that time, had to file tax returns for a period of five years ( 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011).

The human rights defender who has been living in a village in the Homel district for more than a year, asked the tax office to explain why the Saviecki district tax office persecuted him though he had changed his address. The lawyer also asked which state agency had ordered the tax office to obtain information about his income and assets.

Deputy head of the tax office Andrei Siniukevich answered the previous order had been cancelled because tax officers didn't know Sudalenka had a new address. But he refused to reveal who had ordered the tax office to carry out a check on Sudalenka.

“The acting legislation does not oblige tax agencies to inform citizens why they have been ordered to file tax returns,” the tax office deputy head answered.

Leanid Sudalenka doesn't agree with the conclusion of tax inspectors. He wants to receive this information even if he has to apply to court.