Thousands lose benefits
fiscated nearly 4,000 cards identifying their holders as Chernobyl clean-up workers because they were issued unlawfully or forged, officials said Thursday.
In a campaign set to end by next May, Ukraine is checking on nearly 400,000 cardholders who are entitled to state benefits as 'liquidators' of the 1986 accident at the nuclear power plant.
The government had checked three-quarters of the cards and confiscated 3,819 as of December 1, the Emergencies Ministry, which handles the aftermath of Chernobyl and its victims, said in a written statement.
More than 70,000 other cardholders have been asked to provide additional proof that they worked at or near the site of the world's worst civilian nuclear accident, and thus were exposed to radiation.
'The verification process has shown that entire collectives, not just individuals, received documents without the corresponding foundation,' the Emergencies Ministry statement said.
It named one construction outfit whose managers received liquidator status after convincing a court they worked on buildings near Chernobyl that 'are not there and never existed.'
The ministry said most of the confiscated cards were received 'by coincidence, misunderstanding or mistake.' Liquidators themselves say many were purchased by bribing bureaucrats.
In cases where cards were allegedly forged, the state has pressed charges in order to get its money back. Those who received the documents by error will not be prosecuted, the statement said.
Chernobyl clean-up workers receive higher-than-average pensions and other benefits, although inflation since the Soviet era has eroded the entitlements and there have been cutbacks.
Ukraine has a 10 percent 'Chernobyl Tax' on payrolls to help fund the benefits, which an Emergencies Ministry official said Wednesday cost the state 4,000 hryvna ($2,120) per person annually.
Many liquidators received doses of radiation working at or near Chernobyl after the accident. Thousands have died or committed suicide.
