DUSHANBE, July 15, 2015, Asia-Plus -- Tajikistan’s Higher Economic Court has reportedly rejected an appeal by Tajik mobile phone operator, Babilon-Mobile.

In a report released at a news conference in Dushanbe, Chairman of the Higher Economic Court, Naim Mansourzoda, revealed on July 15 that they confirmed the legitimacy of actions of the Tax Committee.

At the same time, Mansourzoda stressed that the Higher Economic Court does not recover the amount mentioned by the Tax Committee.  “We did not discuss the amount of taxes to be paid, we just discussed the legality of actions of the Tax Committee,” he noted.

Tajik mobile phone operator, Babilon-Mobile, has lost a tax debt case in the Higher Economic Court.

We will recall that Nusratullo Davlatzoda, the head of the Tax Committee under the Government of Tajikistan, told reporters in Dushanbe on January 19 that Babilon-Mobile, has lost a tax debt case in the Higher Economic Court.  “Under the ruling handed down by the Higher Economic Court, Babilon-Mobile must pay some 350 million somoni to the country’s budget,” Davlatzoda said, noting that the mobile phone operator will pay the amount piecemeal.

Tajik tax chief further noted that Hightronic, a certain private company of Russian origin registered in the British Virgin Islands, assumed the 75% ownership interest in Babilon-Mobile.

According to the Tax Committee, Babilon-Mobile’s tax debts have accrued since 2011.  Babilon-Mobile is on the register of dominants of the country’s telecommunications market, and therefore, before introducing new fees the company must coordinate them with the antimonopoly agency.  Babilon-Mobile has not coordinated its fees with the antimonopoly agency, the tax officials noted.