You're reading: Kravchuk: Yanukovych puts rights of Ukrainians above economic interests of state

First President of independent Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk (1991-1994) has said that the veto on the Tax Code is a responsible decision taken by current President Viktor Yanukovych.

"I believe President Yanukovych acted with responsibility and correctly, by putting the people’s rights above the economic interests of the state. This is a very responsible decision. This is a decision of a real head of state who takes care of the country and its citizens," Kravchuk said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday, and added this decision was a victory for Yanukovych.

Kravchuk said he had attentively monitored the work on the code, as it should have been adopted long ago. He also noted that he initiated this process during the second year of his presidency, but he lacked the support in the parliament needed to approve this document.

According to him, the second and third Presidents of Ukraine, Leonid Kuchma and Viktor Yuschenko, did not have enough political will to adopt the Tax Code.

At the same time, Kravchuk criticized proposals by Vice Premier Sergiy Tigipko on the Tax Code, as they were drawn up "in line with ideal European conditions."

"It was not taken into account that millions of people, citizens of Ukraine, by travelling with [hand trucks called] ‘kravchuchka’ earned money and on their own were occupied with their own employment, [and] did not shift own problems onto the country’s budget," he said.

Watch the video online: http://tsn.ua/ukrayina/akciyi-protestu-na-maydani-nezalezhnosti-videotranslyaciya.html