Ukrainian Tax Protesters Skip Meeting With Prime Minister

Demonstrators against the tax changes march during a protest in Lviv on November 29.

UKYIV -- The organizers of the mass protests against Ukraine's new tax law have failed to appear for a planned meeting with Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reports.

Azarov's spokesman, Vitaliy Lukyanenko, said the talks between Azarov and representatives of the protest were scheduled for midday on November 29.

He said the chance for dialogue between the government and protesters was not gone, adding that the government was still ready to discuss the new tax code with the owners of small and medium-sized businesses.

Thousands of such business owners have protested for two weeks in Kyiv and other cities to demand that President Viktor Yanukovych veto the legislation, which was approved by parliament nearly two weeks ago.

Yanukovych said on November 27 that he does not rule out vetoing the tax code.

The protests were continuing on Kyiv's Independence Square and in front of the parliament building.

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