There is no such reason for suspension of pension payments as ATO. This was reported during a talk show, "People. HardTalk" on "112 Ukraine" TV channel by the Commissioner for Human Rights of Verkhovna Rada Valeriya Lutkovska.
"We stopped paying social benefits, which do not depend on the conflict in ATO zone. We stopped paying pensions entirely illegal, despite the fact that there is no such ground as ATO for suspension of these payments,” Lutkovska said.
" I do not believe and treat with great sarcasm the idea that pensioner who receives about $ 50 will finance terrorism. As well as the single mother who was left with child in her hands, she will not give the money that she is supposed to receive to support terrorists. But the question of coal purchases from the uncontrolled territory of Luhansk region - it is really a very serious issue and, excuse me, who buys coal, and who is a "financier"?” she said.
According to Lutkovska, Ukrainian state is obliged to pay pensions, and if there is no such mechanism, it is the problem of the state, but not the problem of pensioners who cannot leave the occupied territories.
As it is known, pensions and social benefits to the residents of the occupied Donbas were suspended by the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers dated November 7, 2014. Payments shall be restored after the return of the regions under the control of the Ukrainian authorities.