NGOs welcome end of tax probe over Norway grants

Budapest (MTI) – Okotars welcomes the cessation of a probe by Hungary’s tax office (NAV) into the operations of the foundation and 17 other NGOs in connection with funding they received from the Norway Civil Grant.

It has become clear that Okotars and the other organisations acted legally and their documentation was in order while they complied with supervision requirements, Okotars said in a statement sent to MTI on Tuesday.

The “illegal” probe in the case was “completely baseless”, as representatives of supporting countries had stated before, the statement said.

The Norway Civil Grant had awarded grants to more than 430 civil society projects in various areas over the past two years, it noted.

The suspended tax numbers of Okotars and its partners — Autonomia, DemNet and Karpatok foundations — are still “in the hands of the court,” but all channels of appeal will be sought to prove the rectitude of the NGOs, it said.

NAV said in December last year that it had ordered an investigation for suspected misuse of public funds in connection with Norway grants. The Government Control Office (Kehi) filed complaints last November, claiming irregularities while auditing Norway grants.

The press office of NAV’s regional directorate for Central Hungary confirmed to MTI that the investigation was closed on Oct. 7. “due to lack of evidence of a crime”.

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters