OREANDA-NEWS. Uralsvyazinform (RTS: URSI/URSIP) the leading carrier of fixed-line and mobile services in the Urals region, Russia comments on the decision of tax authorities to claim RUR 561.3 million in taxes and penalties for 2003-2004’s.

Uralsvyazinform has initiated legal procedures necessary to dispute the tax claims for the period of 2003-2004’s in Moscow Court of Arbitration. Collection of tax arrears and penalties has been postponed until the court proceedings are finished.

On December 1, 2006, the company received the Tax Authority’s Decision #12 affirming that Uralsvyazinform is to be held liable for the tax offence. The document specified the final tax claims in the amount of RUR 561.3 million in unpaid taxes and RUR 107.4 million in penalties for the period of 2003-2004.

Moscow Court of Arbitration postponed the legal enforcement under Decision #12 upon the receipt and affirmation of Uralsvyazinform’s request for interlocutory injunction.

Uralsvyazinform disagrees with the Tax Authority’s decision and considers itself to be a bona fide taxpayer. In 2003-2004’s Uralsvyazinform contributed about RUR 7.8 billion in various taxes and dues.