President Victor Yushchenko met Defense Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov to hear his report on details of cutting off supplies of electricity to 72 military facilities. Prosecutor general Olexandr Medvedko also took part in the meeting.
Minister Yekhanurov reported to President Yushchenko that Defense Ministry has a debt of 147 million hryvnyas for the consumed electricity last year and this year (80 million for January) with 38 million already paid and 30 million currently being negotiated with Ministry of Finance. As for now, Yuriy Yekhanurov said, 72 military facilities were cut off from electricity.
However, according to him, the debt cannot reason cutting off eight anti aircraft units and four military airfields because this contradicts relevant decree of the Cabinet and presents real danger to Ukrainian army's combat readiness and its ability to protect the state.
"We demand revision of military budget and making appropriate alterations to this year's budget law", - said Minister Yekhanurov, explaining that 8,4 billion hryvnyas foreseen in the budget are far not enough because currently Defense Ministry would need 32,4 billion hryvnyas in order to implement all the planned programs or 17,7 billion just to function properly.
From his part President Yushchenko instructed the present Prosecutor General to investigate why Defense Ministry did not get the money to pay for electricity. "Your report should be public. The whole country should find out, who was responsible for violation of national legislation", - he said, addressing the PG.
Beside that President Yushchenko emphasized that until the end of this day supplies of electricity to all eight anti aircraft units must be restored.
The Prosecutor General informed President Yushchenko that this morning regional prosecutors have already received instructions to conduct appropriate investigations and send back their information on measures taken tomorrow.
