Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995

Prime Minister Mykola Azarov on Sept. 8 said there do not yet exist grounds for an increase in housing tariffs. Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has described talk of an increase in tariffs for housing and utilities services as "speculations by irresponsible politicians."

"Any speculation about increases in the tariffs for housing and utilities services are absolutely unreasonable at the moment. I emphasize: these are just attempts by irresponsible politicians to stir up society and undermine the stability of the state," he said opening a meeting of the government in Kyiv on Wednesday.

The prime minister said that the National Electricity Regulatory Commission, which is in charge of tariffs increases until a similar commission for tariffs for housing and utilities is created, has taken only one decision – to increase the price of gas.