The document reads that if pressure from the financial police continues, then the Soros-Kazakhstan Foundation will have no choice but to close its office and stop work in the country.
The move has been prompted by the Anti-Economic and Corruption Crime Department in Alma-Ata opening a criminal case on tax evasion against the Foundation. The results of an audit conducted by the Alma-Ata tax committee are the basis of the investigation. The check revealed that more than 81 million tenge ($623,000) in taxes were unpaid between January 1, 2002 and March 31, 2004.
The Foundation's press release stated that Soros-Kazakhstan paid all the tax arrears immediately in October after the tax bodies officially presented their claims. However, the police opened a criminal case on December 27.
The Foundation appealed the results of the audit, but the motion was not upheld.
