Premier promises no increase in tariffs for housing and utility services for Ukrainians

15:40, 16.10.2012 1 min read

Tariffs for housing and utility services for Ukrainian citizens have not been raised for two years, and they will not rise, Regions Party leader and Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has said.

"We have not raised the tariffs for two years, and we won't raise them," he said at a meeting with employees of Zaporizhia Automobile Plant in Zaporizhia on Tuesday.

Azarov said the government had not raised the tariffs, despite having to pay for expensive natural gas, for which Ukraine pays about $1 billion to Russia every month and annually overpays $5 billion.

"What is the value of the annual volume of production at your plant? $350 million. So we simply give Russia 12 times the profit of your plant for gas under the contract, presenting this as a gift," he said.

Azarov advised voters who intend to support the opposition in the parliamentary elections to monthly pay for housing and utility services three times more than needed.

"I sometimes think that why those who vote for them [opposition members] should not pay the cost of utility services in accordance with this gas price. This is about three times more expensive," he added.