Tax Centre against TV 25

The Batumi City Court will adjudicate the administrative suit of Adjara Regional Tax Centre against TV Company TV 25. The suit is based on the Tax Inspection’s act issued on September 1, 2004. It is stated in the act that TV company has 277 000 GEL state debt. However, the Kutaisi Court of Appeals declared the debt as void and ordered that another tax inspection is organized for TV 25. The Adjara Regional Tax Centre did not take into account this verdict and requested to pay the debt based on the act of Tax Inspection. The centre claims that it will impose additional fines on the TV Company if it does not pay the debt.

Merab Merkviladze, a head of the TV Company: “This debt was imposed before the Rose Revolution when Soso Gogitidze, the Minister of Security of Adjara was the owner of 51 % of TV Company shares. The Kutaisi Court of Appeals invalidated the act but they want us to pay the debt either way. This is illegal.”
Judge Gocha Putkaradze from the Batumi City Court will adjudicate the case.

The Human Rights Centre