NGO Blames Authorities in Attempt of Seizing Money

(Tbilisi, December 27, 2002. Civil Georgia) – Charitable Humanitarian Center “Abkhazeti” (CHCA) accuses the tax and revenue department of the Abkhazian government in exile in mounting pressure. Tax department demands the “debt” of several years of profit tax.

CHCA appealed the court claiming authorities’ demand is illegal. NGO receives the grants from international donors having the agreement with the Georgian government about the tax exemption.

In November 2002, tax inspection of Abkhazian autonomous republic made the investigation of CHCA and obliged the organization to pay the profit tax for several years. In case of unpayment the department threatens to close the bank accounts of CHCA. 

CHCA is national civil society organization providing the micro grants to IDPs, it is also engaged in youth educational and social integration programs for IDPs in Western Georgia.

CHCA provided all the necessary documents proving the tax release for the international organizations, however as the head of the CHCA Archil Bakuradze told Civil Georgia, “tax department does not will to recognize the superiority of international agreements over the national tax code”.

 “We are in a trouble as the tax department obliges us to pay the debt of two years otherwise we will not be able to implement the program and more than 1500  small scale entrepreneurs will be in trouble,” Archil Bakuradze says.

On December 27, 2002 the court had to reach the decision, but as it appeared due to certain technical problems the hearing was delayed.