nuclear-news

Chernobyls’ veteran “liquidators” storm Ukraine’s parliament

Chernobyl veterans seek to storm Ukraine’s parliament Times of Oman Nov 01 2011  Ukraine: About 1,000 Ukrainian veterans of theclean-up from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster tried Tuesday to storm parliament in Kiev in outrage at planned benefit cuts, an AFP correspondent reported.

The demonstrators broke down a metal fence which was built up around the parliament several weeks ago after the first attempt of the Chernobyl “liquidators” and veterans of the Soviet Afghan war to break into the building.

About 100 riot policemen gathered near the parliament entrances to prevent the veterans coming into the chamber itself.  The protesters stayed on the square between the parliament and the broken fence and shouted “Shame!”.

In September, lawmakers gave initial approval to a bill cutting back benefits paid to those who helped clean up the April 1986 nuclear disaster and those who still live on the affected lands.
However the protests have meant the parliament has not taken further action.  http://www.timesofoman.com/innercat.asp?detail=51553

November 2, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, Ukraine