KIEV, Dec. 1 - A standoff between the authorities and protesters may deepen after reports emerged that an apparently unauthorized group of entrepreneurs has resumed separate talks with the government over tax legislation.
The group, which claims to represent some small business owners, has signed a memorandum with the government on Wednesday that calls for amending the tax legislation.
This sharply contrasts demands of the main number of protesters that insist on drafting a new tax legislation from scratch as opposed to amending the one that had triggered the standoff last week.
“As far as I know, nobody has been authorized by the coordinating council of entrepreneurs to sign the memorandum with the government today,” Volodymyr Dorosh, the protest coordinator, told TVi. “We haven’t had any meeting with the government.”
The comment came after the government had reported it had signed the memorandum of understanding with the protesters that incorporate amendments to the tax legislation vetoed by President Viktor Yanukovych.
The developments suggest there was a chance for an escalation of tensions between the protesters and the authorities that may trigger a new wave of confrontation.
Both, the protesters and the largest opposition group, Batkivshchyna, warned the government against plans of amending the tax code, and insisted that completely new legislation should be drafted.
The protest began on Nov. 22 as a spontaneous reaction to the Tax Code, which was approved by Parliament on Nov. 18. The protesters complain that the tax legislation is reducing taxes on big corporations, but increases pressure on small businesses.
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