6. Odesa gas debts threaten cut in supplies

ODESA. The first Deputy President of Odesa Gas AT, Ihor Uchytel' spoke March 12 about gas provision to the region. He noted that «a critical situation has emerged concerning gas supplies in the oblast, while the northern part of Odesa is also threatened and may suffer a loss in gas supplies.» This critical situation has been caused by the accumulation of significant debts for consumed gas. The total gas debt for Odesa oblast stands at Hr 128.6 mn, including of Hr 123mn owed by Odesa. The main debtors are residential consumers and the local budget.

7. Cec decides to give prisoners plebiscit

KYIV. The Central Electoral Committee approved a decision to include Ukrainian prisoners to the number of voters eligible to vote at the parliamentary elections March 29. A total of 184 institutions in Ukraine hold more than 200,000 citizens. The CEC's resolution ruled to create polling stations in prisons by March 20 and establish rel­evant constituencies by March 23. Prisoners were not allowed to vote prior to this.

8. Criminal cases affect most of candidates

KYIV. Since the beginning of the election campaign, 16 crimi­nal cases have been filed pertaining to crimes committed against can­didates running as deputies to the VR. Candidates committed 2 crimes themselves, and in 2 other cases they were involved in car accidents. Five of the cases were registered in Kyiv and 4 took place in Vinnytsya. One candidate to the VR in Vinnytsya was accused of financial fraud, while another to the Kharkiv city council murdered his mother.

9. Uuie supports economic rapprochement

KYIV. The Ukrainian Union of Industrials and Entrepreneurs made two important statements March 11. Although the first one strongly criticized the policies of government ministries and NBU, the second supported the economic cooperation treaty signed with Russia last month. The first criticized high yield T-bills for distracting domestic investments for purely speculative purposes. The 44% discount rate squeezed businessmen by depriving them of credit resources. UUIE experts believe the economic cooperation treaty will bring Ukraine economic benefits and provide firms like the L'viv bus plant, Motor Sich, TurboAtom and others with valuable orders.