World News

Ukraine PM: No cuts in Chernobyl benefits

Published: April 27, 2011 at 12:13 AM

KIEV, Ukraine, April 27 (UPI) -- Cuts in benefits for those injured in the Chernobyl nuclear disaster have been ruled out, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said Tuesday.

Opposition leaders have criticized draft legislation they say would cut pensions to Chernobyl victims, workers who helped with the cleanup, veterans and others, the Ukrainian News Agency reported. But Azarov said the criticism was not warranted.

"The government will never allow or trigger cancellation of these benefits," he said.

He accused the news media of uncritically reporting statements by former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and others.

Topics: Mykola Azarov

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