Photo: The Journalist
On October 31, thousands of people gathered at the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to protest against rising of the gas prices and utility tariffs for households. In addition, people appealed to the authorities with claim that such actions are economically unreasonable. The event took place at the initiative of OlehLyashko’s Radical Party.
«When, Ukraine authorities began shamelessly raises prices three years ago, robbing people, we were the first who come here at the Cabinet, demanding to stop the rise in prices. Many people then were indifferent. And today, those who were indifferent then, let they remember and do not be indifferent today. When three years ago my team and I said that the tariff genocide had to be stopped, many people did not support us. When Poroshenko and his associates say that there is no alternative to raising gas prices, that we should pay the European price, we forgot to give Ukrainians wages and pensions similar to the European,» MP Oleh Lyashkov said at a rally.
Also during the picket, the leader of the Radical Party read out the itizens’ demands, listed in the resolution.
«All-Ukrainian «Stop tariffs!» rally resolution condemn the non-transparent and economically unjustified the increase of natural gas prices and utility tariffs for households, which were resulted by the secret conspiracy of President Poroshenko, Government with the International Monetary Fund. Artificially linking gas prices to the so-called «import parity» will cause a socio-economic shock. Municipal tariffs will significantly increase, the income of Ukrainians will be devalued, they will have to pay more for gas and heat, they will have less money for food, clothing, medicines, and studies. This is a shock without therapy. The plan proposed by the Radical Party will allow to prevent the tariff shock, reduce the price for gas and make utility tariffs affordable for the population,» said the parliamentarian.
This strategy provides introduction of social standard of gas consumption for the population at the level of 2400 cubic meters during heating season (400 cubic meters per month). Thanks to these measures, the least protected part of the population (who consume gas economically), will be able to pay half price for natural gas. The next paragraph of the resolution proclaims the establishment of a fair gas price, based on the it’s production cost, investment component, the regulated rate of return, trading margin and transportation costs.
«To limit profitability of Ukraine’s gas production to the max 15% level, instead of the current hundreds of percent, on the basis of Articles 12 and 13 of the Law of Ukraine «on Costs and Pricing». With a prime cost of Ukrainian gas at UAH 3,000 per thousand cubic meters, and its marginal, economically reasonable price of UAH 5,100 per thousand cubic meters, and the gas import price of UAH 12,000 per thousand cubic meters, gas for household consumers within the social consumption rate should cost UAH 4,300 per thousand cubes. The price set by the government at UAH 8,500 is absolutely unacceptable. The third is the completing of reorganization of the inefficient state-owned monopoly «Naftogaz» (which CEOs receive multimillion-dollar salaries and billions in premiums), turning it into the transparent gas market operator that provides Ukrainian citizens and her industry with natural gas at an economically reasonable weighted average price level, without artificial linkage to the parity,» – Oleh Lyashko reported.
Among the demands, which were noted in the resolution, are: increasing of Ukraine’s own production of energy resources; the rejection of gas imports; the introduction of large-scale energy modernization and the recalculation of wages and pensions.
After the document was read, the Radical Party’s representatives went to meet with еру Governmental officials and the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Volodymyr Groysman, in order to convey citizens’ demands and discuss ways of their fulfillment.
«Today, the Radical Party of Oleh Lyashko is calling on people across the country to protest against predatory tariffs, because people are already leaving in harsh conditions. Today Poroshenko, the Government are reaching into the pocket of every Ukrainian family, taking the latter they have. We will oppose this in all possible ways. Our requirements are to renew the social norm on gas for low-income groups of the population. Reduce the cost of gas for the population, as well as for industry, because these are jobs. Set a fair price for «blue fuel». And not the way it is today, when the state monopoly «Naftogaz» robbing Ukrainians with an extortionate, overpriced price. The Naftogaz’s liquidation is necessary, because it is an inefficient state monopoly. In addition, we demand the punishment for all the officials who are involved in this mess. Our faction went to the Prime Minister with a resolution, where our demands are listed. But we must clearly understand that the government is not interested in reducing tariffs. Therefore, in order to win, we must continue our struggle in order to achieve the fulfillment of all our requirements. I call on all Ukrainians, regardless of political affiliation, to take part in actions against raising tariffs to protect Ukrainians «right to life», because this anti-people regime will take the latter you have,» said the Ukrainian people’s deputy, representative of the Radical Party of Oleg Lyashko, Andriy Lozoviy.
For more details see the story of The Journalist.
Подписывайтесь на telegram-канал journalist.today
