Ukrainian miners bang their helmets on the pavement during a protest outside the presidential administration in Kiev, Ukraine, Wednesday, April 22. 2015. About 1,000 miners gathered near government buildings in a call for the resignation of the energy minister amid anger at the authorities decision to buy coal from abroad. The banner reads: 'Ukrainian Coal and Ukrainian Electricity for the Country.' (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) (The Associated Press)
KIEV, Ukraine – A leading politician in Ukraine has accused the country's richest man of inciting public unrest to ensure the government steers clear of reforms that would hurt his businesses.
Mustafa Nayyem, a respected former reporter, published documents Friday claiming to prove that protest marches this week by miners were organized by an energy company owned by billionaire Rinat Akhmetov.
Hundreds of miners have gathered outside government buildings in the capital over recent days in calls for the resignation of the energy minister and for guarantees on a moratorium on mine closures.
Akhmetov's DTEK holding company controls much of Ukraine's coal industry. The government has recently adopted measures to eliminate subsidies for loss-making parts of the coal sector.
DTEK did not respond to emailed requests for comment.
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