Village councils in Khust district claim that their plans to unite are being hampered (PHOTOS)

Currently, the number of united communities in Transcarpathia is the lowest (only two). And this is the only region where the roadmap for merger of communities has not yet been developed.

Ivan Scholya, Nyzhnye Selyshche village head said: "The meeting to discuss the merger of Nyzhnye Selyshche, Kopashnevo, and Nankovo village councils was attended by about 300 people. We collected 1,136 signatures of people who wish to be united in one community. But the deputies of Nankovo subsequently backtracked on it, so we decided to unite two village councils – Nyzhnye Selyshche and Kopashnevo. We have studied the experience of united communities in Tyachiv district and would like to manage on our territory in the same way, especially since there is the relevant Law of Ukraine. We have submitted the relevant documents with the Transcarpathian Regional State Administration. They returned them for revision, which we did. But when we submitted them for the second time, we were denied again."

Volodymyr Molnar, the chairman of the working group on the merger of villages of Kopashnovo, Khustets, Lunka, Polyana, says: "Last year, I was not a supporter of the idea of ​​unification. I served in the Armed Forces, used to be the chairman of the village council myself.We saw how it works in other united communities. And then, even those, who had not suppored this idea, saw how much good was done in those villages." 

"The conflict is that the money will go directly to local communities, past the pockets of administrations’ officials. Officials do not think about the reforms, they think about money. A major conflict between the Transcarpathian Regional State Administration and our community is brewing. But there are eight and a half thousand of us. And those, who should explain to us how to do that reform, are actually hampering it. But officials can not violate the law. I participated in all revolutions. What did we fight for? For reforms! And where are they? We will not give up. We’re not saying, give us money, we are saying, do not be in the way," – V. Molnar said.

Oleksandr Lypchey, the chairman of Nyzhnye Selyshche working group, said that they had written appeals to the ministry and the leadership of the country.