Ukrainian owners of cars with foreign registration block traffic near Government quarters, name demands

The owners of cars with foreign registration plates since Wednesday morning have been blocking a number of central streets in Kyiv, demanding that the government abolish Cabinet Resolution No. 475, according to which Ukrainian police got access to the "Inspector-2006" customs database. The activists also require that bills 8487 and 8488 be put on the agenda of the Verkhovna Rada, to reduce the excise tax on cars during their customs clearance.

Activists believe Resolution 475 greenlights "repression" against owners of such cars and "practically paralyzes all work at customs,"  head of AutoEuroSyla organization Oleh Yaroshevych told UNIAN.

He went on to explain the demand to include tax-easing bills in Parliament agenda before a summer break, saying that otherwise, the bills will not be considered in due time prior to the adoption of the new budget, which is 6 months.

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According to Yaroshevych, the rally will be indefinite, until the demands are met.

"We came here for an indefinite rally. Now there is only a small part we were able to gather in one day. Many people did not have time to leave work or get there," he said.

In addition, Yaroshevych said the protest will be held only in the government quarter in Kyiv.

"We press only on the legislative and executive powers, i.e. on the Cabinet of Ministers and the Verkhovna Rada," he said.

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As UNIAN reported, on June 15, two bills were submitted to the parliament providing for the reduced customs taxes for imported cars with foreign license plates (reduction of excise tax) and lifting the ban on customs clearance of cars that do not comply with the Euro-5 standard. In particular, the draft laws deal with strengthening control over the crossing and stay in Ukraine of cars with foreign registration plates. According to Chairperson of the parliament's tax and customs policy committee Nina Yuzhanina, if the Verkhovna Rada backs the amendments to the legislation on reducing the excise tax on cars, a car with foreign registration plates could be cleared for EUR 2,500-3,000.