17 November 2014, 21:15
Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov insists on disposal of property belonging to the State Management of Affairs.
In an interview to ICTV channel on Monday, Oleksandr Turchynov reminded that the State Management of Affairs, established by President Leonid Kuchma, was given a huge amount of material resources.
The Chairperson of the Parliament claimed the State Management of Affairs "owns not only a lot of cottages, villas, and residences but also land assets, enterprises, including agricultural ones, and even Zhytomyr Liquor & Horilka Distillery Factory". "All of this is a burden for the state budget, since the residences and cottages need to be repaired and managed. Ukraine, which is now conducting a war, lacks the resources", said Oleksandr Turchynov.
The Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stressed that in all civilized world countries, the officials receive a salary and have no privileges.
In words of the Chairperson of the Parliament, Ukraine can only have "one, maximum two" state residences for holding "international meetings". "It can not be more than that. This does not adhere to country's economic conditions or common sense", he added.
Oleksandr Turchynov said that while in the position of the Head of State, he signed a decree which accelerates the procedure of disposing of this property either by selling it by tender or by transferring it to specialized ministries and departments. In his words, this will allow replenish state budget, taking into account that luxury cottages were built in prestigious places near Kyiv. "Even now they will be in great demand", he said.
Moreover, Oleksandr Turchynov claimed that "unfortunately, instead of disposing of the property, it is being inventoried".
When answering the questions, the Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine mentioned that while being a state official he never used a state cottage. "It is unnecessary. I believe that when one becomes a state official, they need not have a motivation to live off the state budget or live in a state cottage or residence", stressed Oleksandr Turchynov. "We have a lot of officials who have been living in state cottages for decades and they feel wonderful. It is wrong; citizens must not support those who receive high salaries".