UKRAINE: Chernobyl clean-up workers continue their protest after trying to storm the parliament building a day earlier over planned benefit cuts

Record ID: 216132

  • Title: UKRAINE: Chernobyl clean-up workers continue their protest after trying to storm the parliament building a day earlier over planned benefit cuts
  • Date: 3rd November 2011
  • Summary: KIEV, UKRAINE (NOVEMBER 2, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CHERNOBYL VETERANS WITH FLAGS NEAR UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING PROTESTERS HOLDING BANNERS PROTESTING AGAINST ABOLISHING OF BENEFITS FOR CHERNOBYL VETERANS MAN WITH SIGN ON HAT READING IN UKRAINIAN 'CHERNOBYL' VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CHANTING 'DOWN WITH AUTHORITIES' (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) PROTESTER, SERHIY SYMONOVICH,
  • Embargoed: 18th November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine, Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVABCDA5TTVE7MSZKC52MCNO8SDJ
  • Story Text: Veterans of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster on Wednesday (November 2) continued to protest in the Ukrainian capital Kiev against planned cuts to their social benefits.
    Several hundred people chanting "Shame" and "Down with the Authorities" gathered outside Ukraine's government headquarters, demanding a meeting with its members.
    On Tuesday, nearly 700 Chernobyl clean-up workers as well as Afghan war veterans stormed Ukraine's parliament, breaking down an iron gate and pushing past crowds of police officers in a protest against planned cuts to their social benefits.
    "We'll keep standing here until tomorrow or maybe the day after tomorrow. (Ukrainian vice-premier) Tygypko came out to us but said nothing reasonable. We sent a delegation of more than 20 people to speak with them (parliament members)," said protester Serhiy Symonovich.
    "They (the authorities) are living in off-shore zones and we are living in the Ukraine. It means we don't need those people like Tygypko, (Ukrainian President Viktor) Yanukovich, Yulia (Tymoshenko, jailed Ukrainian ex-Prime Minister), or (former Ukrainian President Viktor) Yushchenko. What shall we do next? If nothing changes we will fight or, if not fight, we will address the international court and will sue them in international courts for human rights," said another protester, Volodymyr Maksymenko.
    Under current legislation in the Ukraine, veterans from the Soviet-Afghan war and from the Chernobyl nuclear power accident receive social benefits, tax cuts and discounts on government-run services.
    Ukraine pledged last year to reduce its budget deficit to secure a crucial IMF financing. But steps such as tax and pension reforms have been met with public protests and the government has slowed down the implementation of unpopular austerity measures, prompting the IMF to put financing on hold.
    Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovich addressed the issue at a government meeting on Wednesday.
    Last month, veterans of the 1979-89 Soviet Afghan war rallied in a similar protest against cuts in social benefits and managed to knock down the iron fence surrounding parliament. A new, higher fence was erected around the parliament grounds soon after, but it did not stop protesters from storming the parliament building yesterday.
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