KIEV, Nov. 26 – Serhiy Arbuzov, the powerful governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, insisted on Parliament’s approval of a controversial bill that slaps a 15% tax on every transaction selling hard currency by individuals.

The bill, which was heavily criticized by opposition lawmakers and even by government officials for potentially wrecking havoc on forex markets, had been postponed indefinitely last week.

But Arbuzov said the bill should be submitted to Parliament again and quickly approved as part of a battle against “speculators” that bet against the local currency.