KYIV. Jan 29 (Interfax) - Ukrainian Deputy Interior Minister Viktor Ratushnyak has denied media reports alleging that the government intends to increase the composition of the Berkut and Hryfon special police task forces six-fold to 30,000 members.
"This is untrue," Ratushnyak said in taking questions from journalists in Kyiv on Wednesday.
He acknowledged, however, that the government has restored the financing of the number of law enforcement officials who are not part of the Interior Ministry structure. "We have 14% shortage in the Interior Ministry lineup. I am talking about district police inspectors, patrolmen, and special services," he said.
Some media reported earlier that the government decided at a closed session on January 27 to increase the composition of Berkut and Hryfon to 30,000 people and expand their powers.
At the present time, Berkut has some 4,000 and Hryfon some 1,000 members.