Lady Gaga and Madonna: Partners in Russian tax
evasion?
Anti-Gay Crusader Pursues Madonna, Lady Gaga for Tax Evasion (Kommersant, Russia)
"Today, among the illegal migrant workers on the territory
of the Russian Federation, we can count among them with confidence a singer who goes by
the nickname Madonna, and another with the nickname Gaga. While a street
sweeper cleaning the streets of Dmitrovka can get
hold of the necessary documents, Madonna and Gaga are apparently unable to do
so."
--
St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly Deputy Vitaly
Milonov
No stranger to pissing off the Kremlin, Madonna (above) on tour last year, showing her colors in support of a band of young women named Pussy Riot who were so bold as to challenge Vladimir Putin.
The
Prosecutor General's Officehas
accused Madonna and Lady Gaga of violating immigration laws. That is why the authorities
have responded to a request by St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly Deputy Vitaly
Milonov. The Prosecutor's Office has confirmed that the American singers
had no right to stage profit-making concerts in Russia. Law enforcement
agencies can now hand information on the violations to the Foreign Ministry and
Federal Migration Service. Milonov is completely satisfied with the prosecutor
general’s decision. Milonov told Kommersant that in order to avoid paying taxes, the
producers and concert organizers deliberately failed to arrange work visas for
the international stars.
"Today,
among the illegal migrant workers on the territory of the Russian Federation, we
can count among them with confidence a singer who goes by the nickname Madonna, and
another with the nickname Gaga. While a street sweeper cleaning the streets of Dmitrovka can get hold of the necessary documents, Madonna
and Gaga are apparently unable to do so. On the other hand, of course it would
be hypocritical if we were to suggest that [gay comedian] Stephen Fry should
get a work visa, when it is possible that he wouldn’t pass the screening
tests for certain diseases [AIDS]. Most curious is that the investigation has
revealed not a single Russian organization was involved in organizing these
tours. They all turned Madonna and Gaga down and left everything to some tiny
American booking agency. The question then is, where are the taxes?" he
said.
According
to Mr. Milonov, Madonna received more than $1 million for her concert in St.
Petersburg. If the case goes to court, it will be the Madonna and Lady Gaga
concert organizers who face the biggest fines, says ValentinaTinikova of the law firm Lidings.
But to prove that a concert was "commercial" will be difficult.
Posted By Worldmeets.US
"Humanitarian
visas are issued for the purposes of pursuing cultural relations. Such visas
are issued for the pursuit of non-profit activity. The basic problem consists
in proving that a concert was commercial. And in this case, if a violation of
immigration law is found, the concert agency may be fined 25,000-800,000 rubles
($7,600-$24,400), and the foreign artist around 2,000-5,000 rubles ($60 -$150).
In practice, I think it will be quite difficult to prove that they actually
received these monies, as it will be to prove who was paid, how they were paid,
and on what scale," explained Tinikova.
PMI, who organized the singer's St. Petersburg concert,
reported that Madonna received no earnings in Russia, and that Russian
promoters paid taxes on the sale of tickets. Head of PMI Evgeny
Finkelstein believes that the prosecutor’s verdict may lead to refusals by
foreign stars to tour Russia.
"Throughout
the world there is the concept of an 'artist's visa.' The Foreign Ministry and
our State Duma should really answer for these penalties.
In any case, we, much less the artists, have not broken the law. We simply
don’t have the right to obtain work visas, because I am not employing Madonna.
I am buying a contract for the provision of a service. And if they are suggesting
that we obtain a migrant worker visa, for example, so that she has to submit to
an AIDS test and present her bank statements, that's just total stupidity."
Finkelstein is sure that "if we set such a precedent, then no one else will
ever come here: people who come to hold lectures, put on exhibitions, circus
performers, ballet ..."
Previously,
during last year's concerts in St. Petersburg, a group of activists along with Vitaly Milonov attempted to accuse Madonna and Lady Gaga of
promoting homosexuality among minors. As a result, a case was brought against
Madonna and the organizers of her concert. However, the St. Petersburg courts
were unable to send the pop diva a summons, as her postal address was unknown.
Subsequently, the courts acquitted
the singer.
