Government Discussed Financial Amnesty for Business
The new Cabinet of Ministers today discussed the issue of financial amnesty for those businessmen, who decided to legalize their business until April 1.
Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania told reporters after the government?s session that a special governmental group would be set up to prepare a legal basis for financial amnesty.
He also said that from now on in order to probe private enterprises the law-enforcement agencies should have a relevant sanction from the General Prosecutor, the Tbilisi Prosecutor or the prosecutor of one of the regions of Georgia. Otherwise, the businessmen have the right not to admit them in.
?We have agreed with the Prosecutor General of Georgia and this rule will be introduced soon,? Zhvania added.
?We are ready to make compromises and create a profitable environment for the businessmen. They only need to legalize their incomes and pay taxes honestly,? Secretary of the National Security Council Vano Merabishvili, who also attended session, said on February 27.
Earlier on February 20 President Saakashvili offered big business an informal amnesty in return for better tax discipline. He said that no criminal charges would be brought against those businessmen, who ?legalized their businesses.?
?I give my presidential word that the relevant corrections will be made to the law and these people [businessmen] will be free from any responsibility, if they pay the previously hidden taxes and legalize their incomes,? Saakashvili said at a news briefing on February 20.
