Oligarchs' status issue to be put to referendum – Zelensky

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky intends to put the issue of the status of oligarchs to an all-Ukrainian referendum.

He said this in a video address on June 4.

"I will have one question for those who will try to rock the boat, persuade, break or reach an agreement with MPs on this law. This is a question about the status of oligarchs, which will be put to an all-Ukrainian referendum. This question will be the first, and for someone, perhaps the last one," the head of state said.

Zelensky stressed that this bill is only the first step in laying the foundation for countering oligarchic influence.

"You can't own deputies, ministers and any other officials. This bill is the first decision in all 30 years of independence that demonstrates our attitude to the oligarchic system. It claims: yes, there are oligarchs in Ukraine. Yes, they influence politics. And, yes - it will not happen again," the president stressed.

As reported, on June 2, President Volodymyr Zelensky submitted a bill on de-oligarchization to the Verkhovna Rada. The document provides for the establishment of signs by which a person can be recognized as an oligarch, and the creation of a register of oligarchs. Significant influence on the media outlets is among the signs of an oligarch.

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