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Miners in Lugansk region refuse to transfer their wages to restore Independence Square

One of the protest movement’s activist said he had not received 10% of his wages which had been transferred for the restoration of Kiev’s centre

DONETSK, April 23. /ITAR-TASS/. Striking miners in Krasnodon, a city in Ukraine’s eastern Lugansk region, have refused to pay 10% of their wages to restore Independence Square in Kiev that was devastated by protests in February this year.

The miners have been blocking the administration of the rasnodonugol Company responsible for running the mines for the past two days because they did not receive part of their advance payment early this week.

Miner Stanislav Denisenko, one of the protest movement’s activists, said he had not received 10% of his wages which had been transferred for the restoration of Kiev’s centre.

“I do not understand what we have got to do with it. It was not we who took block stones to pieces and burnt houses in Kiev! I earn 3,000 hryvnias or about 9,000 roubles a month, and they take away part of my wages for God knows what!” Denisenko complained.

According to local media reports, Krasnodonugol’s Director General Alexander Angelovsky tried to talk to the protesters. He urged the striking miners to unblock the administrative building and hold constructive talks.

“That will make it possible to solve the accumulated problems soon,” Angelovsky went on to say.

More than 3,000 striking miners gathered outside Krasnodonugol’s administrative building in Krasnodon on Wednesday. They demand that all their wages be paid to them. They also want to see their wages increased.