The organization is intending to close its office and end its work in Kazakhstan

A press release received by RIA Novosti from the Soros-Kazakhstan Foundation on Wednesday reads that the organization is intending to close its office and end its work in Kazakhstan. 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.