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| Europe |
| Ukraine risks unrest as ills worsen |
| 2009-03-03 |
| Olexander Pavlenko, a young computer programmer, is one of tens of thousands of Ukrainians who cannot get their money out of the bank. He stood in line in Kiev at Nadra Bank and Ukrprombank, two big troubled banks, planning to withdraw more than $10,000 (€7,950, £7,125). But like many others, he was told the cash was not available. "I stood in line a couple times with other bank clients who were protesting, crying and screaming. But the bank told me: 'Sorry, we simply don't have the money now and can't help you.'" With about nine banks now under the central bank's special control, Ukrainians are increasingly worried. Even those with their money in apparently solid banks, including those controlled by west European banking groups, are concerned because the central bank has banned the early redemption of term deposits, the most popular form of saving in Ukraine. Altogether, hryvnia bank deposits have dropped 20 per cent since September and those in foreign currency 10 per cent. |
| Posted by:Steve White |