DUSHANBE, January 19, 2015, Asia-Plus – Tajik mobile phone operator, Babilon-Mobile, has lost a tax debt case in the Higher Economic Court.

In a report released at a news conference in Dushanbe, Nusratullo Davlatzoda, the head of the Tax Committee under the Government of Tajikistan, said on January 19 that the court has ruled in favor of the Tax Committee. 

“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.