Artist faces €1.7m tax bill

OUTSPOKEN artist Ai Weiwei claims Chinese authorities are seeking €1.7 million in back taxes and fines from him.

He has refused to accept the official notice served on him.

Ai was released on bail in June after nearly three months in secret detention.

Chinese authorities said he confessed to tax evasion but his family denies he evaded any taxes. They say he is being targeted for criticising the Communist government.