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Ukrainian Finance Minister: Kiev’s austerity measures may trigger social unrest

According to Natalya Yaresko, these austerity measures included a 470% increase in gas prices

WASHINGTON, April 17. /TASS/. Ukraine’s Finance Minister Natalya Yaresko is concerned not only over the current state of the Ukrainian economy but also over the social upheaval that may follow the austerity measures introduced by the authorities in Kiev.

Speaking at the U.S. Board of Trade in Washington, Yaresko noted that she was worried by uncontrollable social unrest, voicing apprehension that shaky truce in the east of the country would not hold, and a new outbreak of violence would follow. She added that she worried about the social upheaval that could be triggered by the austerity measures.

According to the Ukrainian Finance Minister, these austerity measures included a 470% increase in gas prices. She reminded that the authorities in Kiev had pledged to make the country’s gas supply system fully self-sufficient within the two years’ period.