Opposition candidates pressed by taxation authorities

Democratic activists, nominated by opposition political parties for candidates for the autumn “elections” to the “house of representatives”, are called to tax departments. Relatives of opposition politicians are checked, too.

The Lelchytsy District Inspection on Taxes and Dues demanded activist of the United Civil Party Mikalai Haurylenka to file income and property tax return for 2007. They said, there is information about income from car’s selling, Radio Svaboda reports.

Mikalai Haurylenka’s wife, mother and mother-in-law must file tax return, too. The 70-eyar old woman, who goes to a local shop with difficulty due to ill legs, is suspected in defrauding of income entrepreneurial activities.

“They asked about business activity, selling of cars. They think up different things – allegedly I receive money from abroad. My mother was called to a tax department. She said to them, “Where from can I have income, what can I do?” My mother can hardly walk. My husband’s mother was called, too. She went to a tax department, filed a tax return there. She is an 80-year old pensioner, what incomes can she have? The same is with my mother. I was indignant, but heard in response, “we are ordered to do so, you should understand, the elections are coming.” I said, ”What relation do elections have to pensioners? Check me, my husband, but what do you have to old women? They have worked hard for all their life, but haven’t deserved a normal pension,” Valyantsina, wife of Mikalai Haurylenka, told about their “adventures”.

Mikalai Haurylenka wasn’t registered as a candidate at the previous “parliamentary elections” due to a tax return. The local authorities informed the district election commission the activist had reared teo pigs and hadn’t mentioned it in the tax return.

In the meantime Leanid Sudalenka, the United Democratic Forces’ representative in constituency No 47, regional legal inspector of the Belarusian Trade Union of Radio Electronic Industry Workers, learnt militia is conducting a check on him.

“The department of internal affaires of Homel asked Fyadynich, head of our trade union, if I was working in the trade union, when I worked, from what date, what my salary was. They are conducting a check now. I don’t know why they check me. I think it is connected with the fact I am on the United democratic Forces list of candidates for Khoiniki constituency No 47 for the “parliamentary elections”, which a re to be held in September,” Sudalenka said.

By the way, Homel tax inspection was interested in payment for Leanid Sudalenka’s cellphone over the last two years.

It was informed earlier about pressure upon possible opposition candidates for “parliament” Adam Varanets and his family from the Dobrush district and Kastus Zhukouski from Homel. The latter, in particular, was fined for incorrect filing of a tax return and even of wedding presents from his Ukrainian relatives.