In the framework of the “thaw” in relations with the West, Belarus authorities have thawed the tax case of Andzelika Borys, who now holds the post of chairwoman of the board of the unrecognized by the authorities Union of Poles in Belarus.
In 2007, members of the Union of Poles in Belarus created a company “Polonica”, which in fact assumed the duties of “illegal” organization. The company was engaged in charitable and educational activities.
Soon the authorities began the pursuit of the company. Belarusian court ruled that the company should pay the state tax of $ 40,000. The court ruling also affected the firm’s management. Andzelika Borys was to pay part of the “tax arrears” to get to the funeral of the victims of the Smolensk disaster.
In late 2010, the case was frozen. After four years, ‘Polonica’ management announced its bankruptcy and liquidation. But, as it turned out, the tax authorities still want to get the debt.
On Thursday, Andzelika Borys received a letter from the tax office in Hrodna, demanding to pay debt. As a result, the inflation amount of Br 170 million was reduced to $ 6,000. The activist of the Polish minority in Belarus is afraid that if the case gets to court, she could face property confiscation.
The representative of the Union of Poles of Belarus believes that the tax office claims are politically motivated.
“Recently, the Belarusian authorities have stopped putting unfavorable people in jail, but they intensified financial pressure. Yesterday big fines were received by 12 representatives of the Belarusian opposition,”said Andzelika Borys.
In 2005, the Belarusian secret services divided the Union of Poles in Belarus into two organizations. The Belarusian authorities did not recognize the decision of the organization’s Congress where Andzelika Borys was elected chairwoman. As a result, there appeared a pro-government organization of the Polish minority in Belarus. It is headed by Stanislau Syamashka. After the split of the Union of Poles, authorities confiscated several buildings belonging to the organization and had been built using Polish money.
