You're reading: Korolevska: Spring march of protest could last for at least year

Activists of the All-Ukrainian Vpered (Forward) civil action group will continue to hold rallies if the requirements of the spring march of protest are not fulfilled, MP from the BYT-Batkivschyna faction and chairman of the Vpered people's board, Natalia Korolevska, has said.

According to Korolevska, none of the representatives of ruling factions met with the protesters on Thursday. As a result, Korolevska said she was forced to strive for the right to read an address to MPs in the Verkhovna Rada, the text of which was approved by the activists in all regions of Ukraine.

"We are representatives of more than two hundred public organizations and trade unions. We are those who participated in the drawing up of a package of legislative initiatives entitled ‘People’s Reform’. We are the organizers and participants of the All-Ukrainian Vpered civil action and the spring march of protest. We as the people address you, our elected representatives of the people, whom we delegated to parliament to represent our interests. MPs, it is in your power to stop the disruption of the economy, the extermination of business and the total impoverishment of people. We call for you to stop social experiments on Ukraine’s people. We call for you to adopt real people’s reforms," reads the address.

Korolevska said that the Verkhovna Rada without proper consideration is approving decisions that destroy the Ukrainian economy, such as the Tax Code. At the same time, parliament ignores draft laws drawn up at the initiative of the civil society, Korolevska added.

In addition, Korolevska called on MPs to support people’s reforms. Otherwise, according to her, the activists of the Vpered action would continue their protests.

"If the government does not listen to us this time, the spring march of protests will last for a year, until you or your colleagues of the next convocation fulfill your obligations to the people," the MP said.

On May 19, the spring march of protest took place as part of the All-Ukrainian Vpered rally. During the march, a second meeting of the people’s board of the action was held, at which the texts of addresses to the president and MPs of the Verkhovna Rada were approved. The next meeting of the people’s board of the All-Ukrainian Vpered rally is set for June 14.