P.E.N. Zentrum deutschsprachiger Autoren im Ausland

Vladimir V. Kotenev
Außerordentlicher und Bevollmächtigter Botschafter
der Russischen Föderation in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Botschaft der Russischen Föderation
in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Unter den Linden 63-65
10117 Berlin

8 January 2006

Dear Ambassador,

The PEN Centre of German-speaking Writers Abroad, member of International PEN, the worldwide association of writers with 141 Centres in 99 countries, is deeply disturbed by a court decision to freeze the assets of the Russian PEN Centre.

The Russian PEN Centre occupies its premises rent-free by agreement with its landlord. The court decision followed charges alleging that Russian PEN had failed to pay the land tax on the premises, despite the fact that as a tenant and not a landowner it is not liable to do so. Although officers of Russian PEN appeared before the court with documentation demonstrating the Centre’s rights as a legal tenant of the property from where it has conducted its business, and that it is not liable for the tax on the land, the tax office refused to drop the charges.

We fear that the court action was taken after Russian PEN criticized the new provisions to laws governing public associations and non-commercial organizations, and expressed its real concerns that the new provisions could be interpreted in an arbitrary way and lead to the closure of legitimate organizations whose only role is to promote and serve civil society.

Writers around the world are concerned that the Russian PEN Centre is being threatened as a result of its outspoken criticism of the government and its opposition to the new law. The PEN Centre of German-speaking Writers Abroad protests the threat to the Russian PEN Centre as a violation of the right to freedom of expression and association. It urges the Russian authorities to grant the Centre access to its tax records and to drop the charges of tax evasion against the Centre and its Director General Alexander Tkachenko.

Your comments would be gratefully received.

Sincerely
ppa. Freya Klier (Board Member)