Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TASHKENT842
2007-04-25 11:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tashkent
how-toVZCZCXRO6437 PP RUEHDBU DE RUEHNT #0842 1151115 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 251115Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7757 INFO RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 3012 RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 9130 RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 3614 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 3478 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1982
UNCLAS TASHKENT 000842
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EAID UZ
SUBJECT: FINCA ON THE RUN IN TAX CASE
REF: A. TASHKENT 515
B. TASHKENT 203
C. 06 TASHKENT 2402
Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly.
UNCLAS TASHKENT 000842
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EAID UZ
SUBJECT: FINCA ON THE RUN IN TAX CASE
REF: A. TASHKENT 515
B. TASHKENT 203
C. 06 TASHKENT 2402
Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly.
1. (SBU) On April 24, Uzbekistan's Supreme Economic Court
rejected what likely will be the Foundation for International
Community Assistance's (FINCA) final appeal in its ongoing
tax dispute with the Government of Uzbekistan (reftels). The
court took less than an hour to uphold previous rulings that
tax authorities properly imposed and correctly calculated
financial penalties on FINCA for alleged violations of
Uzbekistan's tax code. In theory, the organization may
appeal to the Presidium of the Supreme Economic Court.
However, FINCA's lawyer said that in accepting the appeal the
Presidium would have to find that the previous decision was
grossly incorrect, which is unlikely. The lawyer expects
that the tax authorities will now move to confiscate FINCA's
remaining assets in country and liquidate the organization.
2. (SBU) Post has confirmed that FINCA has moved as many of
its remaining assets as possible out of Uzbekistan and has
shut its Tashkent office. No FINCA employees were present at
the April 24 hearing. The organization's lawyer initially
argued for a postponement until a FINCA representative could
be present, but after 30 minutes of deliberation (or perhaps
asking for instructions from above),the request was denied.
Following oral arguments, the court took less than five
minutes to reach its final verdict.
3. (SBU) Comment: According to FINCA's lawyer, the
organization had hoped to put off a Supreme Economic Court
decision until after a planned meeting with the Uzbek Embassy
in Washington late the week of April 23. The lawyer told the
court that FINCA's country representative would be returning
to Tashkent. We do not know whether this was simply a smoke
screen on the part of the organization to increase its
chances of a postponement, but the question now is moot, and
we suspect that future FINCA involvement in the case will be
done from offshore.
PURNELL
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EAID UZ
SUBJECT: FINCA ON THE RUN IN TAX CASE
REF: A. TASHKENT 515
B. TASHKENT 203
C. 06 TASHKENT 2402
Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly.
1. (SBU) On April 24, Uzbekistan's Supreme Economic Court
rejected what likely will be the Foundation for International
Community Assistance's (FINCA) final appeal in its ongoing
tax dispute with the Government of Uzbekistan (reftels). The
court took less than an hour to uphold previous rulings that
tax authorities properly imposed and correctly calculated
financial penalties on FINCA for alleged violations of
Uzbekistan's tax code. In theory, the organization may
appeal to the Presidium of the Supreme Economic Court.
However, FINCA's lawyer said that in accepting the appeal the
Presidium would have to find that the previous decision was
grossly incorrect, which is unlikely. The lawyer expects
that the tax authorities will now move to confiscate FINCA's
remaining assets in country and liquidate the organization.
2. (SBU) Post has confirmed that FINCA has moved as many of
its remaining assets as possible out of Uzbekistan and has
shut its Tashkent office. No FINCA employees were present at
the April 24 hearing. The organization's lawyer initially
argued for a postponement until a FINCA representative could
be present, but after 30 minutes of deliberation (or perhaps
asking for instructions from above),the request was denied.
Following oral arguments, the court took less than five
minutes to reach its final verdict.
3. (SBU) Comment: According to FINCA's lawyer, the
organization had hoped to put off a Supreme Economic Court
decision until after a planned meeting with the Uzbek Embassy
in Washington late the week of April 23. The lawyer told the
court that FINCA's country representative would be returning
to Tashkent. We do not know whether this was simply a smoke
screen on the part of the organization to increase its
chances of a postponement, but the question now is moot, and
we suspect that future FINCA involvement in the case will be
done from offshore.
PURNELL