When the bill "On Ratification of the Agreement on State Social Aid to the Family Members of Military Servants who died in Afghanistan and other States of Military Operations" was scrutinized on Wednesday, Mykola Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, stated that ratification of this agreement is worth nothing, as "the veterans of Afghan War and other military campaigns should at least receive the legitimate compensations before May 9."
M.Tomenko called on the veterans of Afghan War to picket the President´s Administration and the Government instead of The Verkhovna Rada, "as even small allowances of the veterans and combatants are not paid, while the Government wants to cut them down."
The Deputy Chairman reminded that the Government had not yet withdrawn the bill on state guarantees concerning execution of judicial acts (Reg. No. 7562), submitted by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, although the Resolution of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of April 5 obliges the Government to do it. For reference, the bill under Reg. No. 7562 amends several Laws of Ukraine concerning the rate and order of payment of social safeguards and privileges to several groups of population, including combatants and eligible persons.
"Thus, today the veterans of Afghan War, whose union is headed by the supporters of Viktor Yanukovych in the presidential elections, should demand that the President and the Government provide social guarantees to the combatants of Afghan War and their family members at least in line with the laws to be revised by the Government," stressed M.Tomenko.