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Miners rally in Kiev to demand energy minister's dismissal

The protesters are also calling for the Ukrainian authorities not to destroy the country's coal industry
Ukrainian miners  EPA/ROMAN PILIPEY
Ukrainian miners
© EPA/ROMAN PILIPEY

KIEV, April 23. /TASS/. Some 300 miners are rallying near the Ukrainian parliament's headquarters to demand the dismissal of Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Vladimir Demchishin, a TASS correspondent reported on Thursday.

The protesters are banging their helmets on the pavements and shouting "Dismissal!" They are also calling for the Ukrainian authorities not to destroy the country's coal industry.

Kiev police have cordoned off the parliament's building.

The Opposition Bloc faction left the parliament's plenary session earlier on Thursday to express solidarity with the protetsing miners who also seek repayment of wage debts and social benefits.

The faction's leader, Yuri Boiko, said the Opposition Bloc members would donate their daily wages to miners.