The repeal of the tobacco tax levied by local governments is out of question. This was announced by Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman answering a question about alleged plans to abolish retail excise tax on the sale of tobacco products during A Question Time for the Government at the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Friday.

“As the Prime Minister I oppose this initiative. Nothing will be abolished for local budgets. We remain this excise tax, so local budgets won’t be endangered", underlined Volodymyr Groysman.

“I assure all of you, all local authorities that none of such decisions will be adopted by the Government. We support decentralization, we stand for the process of decentralization and we will make every effort to prevent anyone claiming revenues of local governments. It is our principled position”, summed up the Head of the Government.