Is Tax Audit of Continent Connected with I ts Bringing Suit?

Last Tuesday, speaking on the Voice of America, Serhiy Sholokh, general manager of Kyiv- based Continent radio, now visiting the US, revealed new actions against his radio station:

“I am president of the Association of Independent Broadcasters of Ukraine. During the last presidential campaign in Ukraine, about 25 television and radio companies were persecuted and harassed under the pretext that the State Telecommunications Committee required them to have transmitter-usage licenses. In our opinion, this departmental license is illegal. On December 3, our association and Continent radio sued the State Telecommunications Committee, demanding that this licensing requirement be lifted. We are trying to fight in a civilized way. As soon as December 6, our radio station received a summons from the Kyiv Pechersky District tax police signed by its chief Mr. Sych, which demanded we submit for inspection all documents relating to the foundation and performance of Continent. Since I, the company manager, am in the US at the moment, the documents were not given in my absence. My employees were warned in the open that our activities were coming to an end.

As Continent employee Yuliya Hrechko told The Day’s journalist, on the Monday before last two tax policemen entered the radio station premises at 4 p.m., showing a warrant, although the station has been subjected to dozens of checks already this year. Due to the manager’s absence, the tax police were shown, but not given, the required documents. Ms. Hrechko does not rule out that the new inspection is connected with the Continent management’s lawsuit against the State Telecommunications Committee.