KIEV, Nov. 7 – Parliament has granted the National Bank of Ukraine the right to introduce for up to six months the obligatory sale of part of foreign exchange earnings and to cut terms for its return.

A total of 237 MPs voted for the bill (No. 11033) on Tuesday.

"The [present] period of instability on the market necessitates stricter controls," NBU Deputy Head Valeriy Prokhorenko said.

Opposition MP and former banker Stanyslav Arzhevitin criticized the adopted wording of the law, as it allows the NBU to use the new instruments without restrictions.