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Tax ministry replies to opposition politician's request over Lukashenka's Maybach claim

The tax ministry has replied to opposition politician Anatol Lyabedzka's request that it check whether Alyaksandr Lukashenka paid a tax on a Maybach presented to him by a Russian businessman.

In its letter to the leader of the United Civic Party, the ministry says that it took note of the request. Citing tax secrecy, the ministry says that it cannot not make public information about the matter.

Speaking in an interview with the popular opposition website charter97.org on Friday, Mr. Lyabedzka said that the tax authorities had indirectly acknowledged that the Belarusian leader had not paid a tax on the luxury car.

"I had expected the tax authorities to reply in strong and clear language that citizen Lukashenka violated no tax rules. They did not reply that way," he was quoted as saying.

Speaking to a group of Russian journalists in mid-October, the Belarusian leader said that he had given the Maybach up to the state and it was kept in a garage. //BelaPAN