KIEV, June 21 (RIA Novosti) - About 200,000 people took to the streets of major Ukrainian towns Wednesday to protest a rise in consumer tariffs for natural gas and public utilities.

A trade union federation organized rallies in all of the country's regional centers apart from Kiev in response to a May 1 decision by the country's energy regulator to raise consumer tariffs for natural gas and electricity by 25%, and by almost 100% from July 1. The second raise is currently being considered by the government.

"We demand that the president, Cabinet and parliament revoke the decision to raise tariffs on natural gas, electricity and public utilities, which could bring most of the country's population to the brink of starvation," the organization said.

On May 24, the federation held a similar rally in Kiev, but the government refused to make any concessions, thereby breaking a general agreement with trade unions and employers, under which the tariffs can only be raised with trade unions' consent.

Kiev will host a rally June 27 that is expected to be attended by at least 100,000 people.