Court compelled oppositionist to pay tax on his wedding presents

On June 4 the court of Tsentralny district of Homel compelled the local activist Kanstantsin Zhukouski to pay income tax equal to 2 mln 115 thousand rubles from the sum of money received by him as a wedding gift.

As informed by the BelaPAN, tax inspection of Tsentralny district filed a case against K. Zhukouski. In March 2008 the regional court dismissed the suit against the opposition activist, but the tax inspection went to the court again.

At the court session K. Zhukouski demanded disqualification of Judge Viktar Kozachak, explaining it by the fact that the judge was prejudiced against him, threatening him, showing temper and tapping on the table. The judge declined the motion as ungrounded and aimed at dragging on the civil case. An interpreter was taking part in the trial, as the activist explained that Russian was not completely understandable to him.

As said by a representative of the tax inspection, after a check it was found that Zhukouski’s expenses (purchase of a house and a car) exceed his income. The young man explained to inspectors that he worked for private enterprises of Russia, and helped his parents in the country, and they gave him money.

Besides, as said by Zhukouski, he had been putting money aside all his life, and had some personal savings. A representative of the tax inspection answered that all personal savings should be confirmed by documents. K. Zhukouski said that he couldn’t ask for notes and other documents form his family members, who presented him money for his wedding, and he is not required to do that by law.

K. Zhukouski is set to challenge the decision of Tsentralny court.