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→Proposals for repeal and revision: make clearer that the bill never went into effect (so there was never an effective repeal), since the bill was passed but vetoed, use word 'bill' consistently (before had 'bill' and 'draft'), add ref for veto
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On February 23, 2014, the second day after the flight of [[Viktor Yanukovich]], while in a parliamentary session, a deputy from "[[Batkivshchina]]" [[Vyacheslav Kyrylenko]] moved to include in the agenda a bill that would have repealed the 2012 law "On the principles of the state language policy". The motion was carried with 232 deputies voting in favor. The bill was included into the agenda, immediately put to a vote with no debate and approved with the same 232 voting in favor. The bill would have made Ukrainian the sole state language at all levels.<ref name=lenta223>{{cite web|url=http://lenta.ru/news/2014/02/23/language/ |title=На Украине отменили закон о региональном статусе русского языка |publisher=Lenta.ru |date= |accessdate=2014-02-23}}</ref><ref name=BBCRLLout>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26312008 Ukraine: Speaker Oleksandr Turchynov named interim president], [[BBC News]] (23 February 2014)</ref>
On February 23, 2014, the second day after the flight of [[Viktor Yanukovich]], while in a parliamentary session, a deputy from "[[Batkivshchina]]" [[Vyacheslav Kyrylenko]] moved to include in the agenda a bill that would have repealed the 2012 law "On the principles of the state language policy". The motion was carried with 232 deputies voting in favor. The bill was included into the agenda, immediately put to a vote with no debate and approved with the same 232 voting in favor. The bill would have made Ukrainian the sole state language at all levels.<ref name=lenta223>{{cite web|url=http://lenta.ru/news/2014/02/23/language/ |title=На Украине отменили закон о региональном статусе русского языка |publisher=Lenta.ru |date= |accessdate=2014-02-23}}</ref><ref name=BBCRLLout>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26312008 Ukraine: Speaker Oleksandr Turchynov named interim president], [[BBC News]] (23 February 2014)</ref>


The attempt to repeal the 2012 law "On the principles of the state language policy" was met with great disdain in [[Crimea]] and [[Southern Ukraine|Southern]] and [[Eastern Ukraine]], provoking waves of protests against Maidan installed government.<ref>[http://www.newsru.com/world/26feb2014/ukr_russian.html Новости NEWSru.com :: На Украине протестуют против начатой новыми властями борьбы с русским языком<!-- Заголовок добавлен ботом -->]</ref> ultimately culminating with the [[2014 Crimean crisis|Crimean crisis]].
The attempt to repeal the 2012 law "On the principles of the state language policy" was met with great disdain in [[Crimea]] and [[Southern Ukraine|Southern]] and [[Eastern Ukraine]], provoking waves of protests against the Maidan installed government<ref>[http://www.newsru.com/world/26feb2014/ukr_russian.html Новости NEWSru.com :: На Украине протестуют против начатой новыми властями борьбы с русским языком<!-- Заголовок добавлен ботом -->]</ref> ultimately culminating with the [[2014 Crimean crisis|Crimean crisis]].


Passage of the repeal bill was met with regret by the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe.<ref>[http://www.dw.de/%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82-%D0%B5%D0%B2%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BF%D1%8B-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BB-%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B5%D0%B2-%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BB%D1%8E%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%8C-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0-%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C%D1%88%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2/a-17470453?maca=rus-rss-ru-all-1126-xml-mrss Совет Европы призвал Киев соблюдать права нацменьшинств] [[Deutsche Welle]]{{ru icon}}</ref> The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities expressed concern over possible further unrest.<ref>[http://www.osce.org/hcnm/115643 Restraint, responsibility and dialogue needed in Ukraine, including Crimea, says OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities]</ref> The bill was also criticized by the Ambassador for Human Rights, of the Russian foreign ministry.<ref>[http://ria.ru/world/20140225/996988557.html Долгов: отмена закона о языке ущемляет права нацменьшинства на Украине] [[RIA Novosti]]{{ru icon}}</ref> Bulgarian and Romanian foreign ministers evaluated it as a step in the wrong direction,<ref>[http://www.mfa.bg/en/events/6/1/1311/index.html Statement of the Spokesman of the MFA on the cancellation of the law on state language policy by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on 23 February 2014] Bulgarian MFA 24.02.2014{{ref-en}}</ref> and the Greek foreign minister expressed disappointment.<ref>[http://itar-tass.com/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/1004051 МИД Греции разочарован решением Рады запретить использование языков нацменьшинств] [[ITAR-TASS]] {{ru icon}}</ref> The Hungarian foreign ministry expressed serious concerns, noting that the decision "could question the commitment of the new Ukrainian administration towards democracy".<ref>[http://www.kormany.hu/en/ministry-of-foreign-affairs/news/repealing-the-language-law-could-question-ukraine-s-democratic-commitment Repealing the language law could question Ukraine’s democratic commitment] 25.02.2014</ref> The Polish foreign minister called it a mistake.<ref>[http://ria.ru/world/20140227/997220812.html Сикорский счел ошибкой отмену закона о региональных языках на Украине] [[RIA Novosti]] {{ru icon}}</ref>
Passage of the repeal bill was met with regret by the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe.<ref>[http://www.dw.de/%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82-%D0%B5%D0%B2%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BF%D1%8B-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BB-%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B5%D0%B2-%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BB%D1%8E%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%8C-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0-%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C%D1%88%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2/a-17470453?maca=rus-rss-ru-all-1126-xml-mrss Совет Европы призвал Киев соблюдать права нацменьшинств] [[Deutsche Welle]]{{ru icon}}</ref> The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities expressed concern over possible further unrest.<ref>[http://www.osce.org/hcnm/115643 Restraint, responsibility and dialogue needed in Ukraine, including Crimea, says OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities]</ref> The bill was also criticized by the Ambassador for Human Rights, of the Russian foreign ministry.<ref>[http://ria.ru/world/20140225/996988557.html Долгов: отмена закона о языке ущемляет права нацменьшинства на Украине] [[RIA Novosti]]{{ru icon}}</ref> Bulgarian and Romanian foreign ministers evaluated it as a step in the wrong direction,<ref>[http://www.mfa.bg/en/events/6/1/1311/index.html Statement of the Spokesman of the MFA on the cancellation of the law on state language policy by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on 23 February 2014] Bulgarian MFA 24.02.2014{{ref-en}}</ref> and the Greek foreign minister expressed disappointment.<ref>[http://itar-tass.com/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/1004051 МИД Греции разочарован решением Рады запретить использование языков нацменьшинств] [[ITAR-TASS]] {{ru icon}}</ref> The Hungarian foreign ministry expressed serious concerns, noting that the decision "could question the commitment of the new Ukrainian administration towards democracy".<ref>[http://www.kormany.hu/en/ministry-of-foreign-affairs/news/repealing-the-language-law-could-question-ukraine-s-democratic-commitment Repealing the language law could question Ukraine’s democratic commitment] 25.02.2014</ref> The Polish foreign minister called it a mistake.<ref>[http://ria.ru/world/20140227/997220812.html Сикорский счел ошибкой отмену закона о региональных языках на Украине] [[RIA Novosti]] {{ru icon}}</ref>

Revision as of 16:53, 7 May 2014

Legislation on languages in Ukraine is based on its Constitution, international obligations and 2012 law "On the principles of the state language policy" (before 2012, the 1989 law "On the languages in the Ukrainian SSR" was in force).

The law "On the principles of the state language policy" was aimed at giving Russian or any other minority language the status of a "regional language"; approving its use in courts, schools and other government institutions in areas of Ukraine where the percentage of representatives of national minorities exceeds 10% of the total population of a defined administrative district.[1][2] In practice this was mostly the case in the country's predominantly Russian-speaking southern and eastern regions.[2] Ukrainian remains the country's only official country-wide language.[2] The bill was adopted amid fistfights in the Ukrainian Parliament building on 3 July 2012. The law came into force on 10 August 2012.[1] Since then various cities and regions of Ukraine declared Russian a regional language in their jurisdictions.[3] Three minor settlements did the same for, respectively, Hungarian, Moldovan and Romanian.[4] A proposal to repeal the law was vetoed on 28 February 2014 by acting President Oleksandr Turchynov, who ordered drafting of a new law to "accommodate the interests of both eastern and western Ukraine and of all ethnic groups and minorities."[5][6]

Overview

See also: Russification of Ukraine
Percentage of native speakers of Russian from the 2001 census. Russian is a regional language in 13 regions (shaded) with 10% or higher.[6]

Since the fall of the Soviet Union and the independence of Ukraine, Russian language remains one of two most used language of business, legal proceedings, science, artistry, and many other spheres of everyday life. According to a 2001 census 67.5% citizens of Ukraine regard Ukraininan as their native language, Russian was mother tongue for another 29.6%, with various other languages splitting the remaining 2.9%.[7] During the Soviet period both the Russian and Ukrainian languages had official status as state languages of the Ukrainian SSR.[8]

Supporters of the bill argued it would make life easier for Russian-speaking Ukrainians.[9] Opponents fear adoption of Russian as a minority language could spread rapidly, challenging Ukrainian and causing splits between eastern and western Ukraine.[10] In practice Russian is already used widely[specify] in official establishments in Ukraine.[11]

According to the article #27 (2nd part) it is necessary to translate Ukrainian place names into other languages using only Ukrainian transcription (the transcription of the state language).

On 9 February 2013 the authors of the 2012 language law, Serhiy Kivalov and Vadym Kolesnichenko, were awarded the "Medal of Pushkin" by Russian President Vladimir Putin for "great contribution to the preservation and promotion of the Russian language and culture abroad".[12]

Important documents

Bill "On the principles of the state language policy"

Analysis

V. Kolesnichenko, one of the authors of the law, refers to its support from various higher education bodies, scientists and NGOs.[14]

In numerous[specify] conclusions is noted that the bill contradicts the Constitution of Ukraine, violates the Budget Code, and directed at annihilation of the Ukrainian language. It suffered a criticism in the conclusions of state authorities and their departments: Main Scientific-Expert Bureau of the Supreme Council of Ukraine (May 23, 2012), Parliamentary Committee on Culture and Spirituality (September 23, 2011), Parliamentary Committee on Budget (November 3, 2011), Ministry of Finance (September 9, 2011), Ministry of Justice (September 27, 2011).[15] The bill also failed to obtain the support from the specialized institutions of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine: Linguistics Institute, Institute of the Ukrainian Language, Institute of political and ethno-national researches, Shevchenko Institute of Literature, Institute of State and Law, Ukrainian linguistic-informational Fund, Philology Institute of Kiev University, Academy of Sciences of the High School of Ukraine.[15]

According to pravda.com.ua, in December 2011 the Venice Commission did not notice in the law draft of Kolesnichenko any guaranties on the protection of the Ukrainian language[16] and later came to a decision that the bill is another "pre-election tool" for the Party of Regions.[17] V. Kolesnichenko, one of the authors of the law, claimed the 2012 analysis of the Venice Commission was "generally supportive".[18]

Fight in parliament

Prior to May 24, 2012 there were rumors that revision of the legislation on languages would take place in parliament (the Verkhovna Rada) and that the Secretary of National Security and Defense would attend the session.[19] Some 1,000 protesters gathered just outside of the Verkhovna Rada building setting up another tent city.[20] State law enforcement warned the protesters not to establish a tent city.[21] The protesters were yelling in Ukrainian "Get busy with work, not a tongue" (implying the law draft on languages).[22] Some posters carried sayings "Problem in poverty, not in language".[23]

At the evening session the parliamentary opposition in the Verkhovna Rada (BYuT and Our Ukraine) blocked the main tribune in parliament as some representatives from the Party of Regions surrounded the presidium. The speaker was forced to announce a break in the session. After the break Member of Parliament Vyacheslav Kyrylenko read a statement of the united opposition not to conduct any hearings regarding language issues. After the law draft #10154 "On the state language of Ukraine" was not adopted onto the daily agenda, Kyrylenko withdrew his draft #9059 "Prohibition of narrowing the sphere of use of Ukrainian language" from a revision, while Kolesnichenko gave a presentation on his draft #9073. The head of the Committee On Issues of Culture and Spirituality Volodymyr Yavorivsky disclosed the decision of the committee to reject the bill #9073 as it was the decision of the committee's majority. He pointed to the fact that the law draft in fact will introduce a bilingual situation in number of regions. However after a review the bill was supported by the parliamentary majority which showed its support in adopting two state languages: Ukrainian and Russian. The parliamentary minority and the deputy group "Reforms for the Future" stayed in opposition to the bill. Parliament speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn was forced to hastily close[24] the session as further discussion descended into another scandalous fight[25] leaving some members of parliament injured.[26][27]

The Party of Regions released a statement to the press where it accused the opposition of denying the adaptation of a bill that protects some constitutional rights of millions of citizens of Ukraine.[28] PoR leader in parliament Yefremov promised to revisit the issue once everything is stable.[29]

Implementation

The bill was to come into force only after it was signed by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and the Chairman of Parliament.[2] But Chairman of Parliament Volodymyr Lytvyn tendered his resignation on 4 July 2012.[2] However, the Verkhovna Rada twice held votes of confidence in the speaker, and did not accept his resignation.[30] On 31 July Lytvyn signed the law.[30] The bill was signed by President Yanukovych on 8 August 2012.[31] The law came into force on 10 August 2012.[1] Since then various Ukrainian cities and regions have declared Russian a regional language in their jurisdictions,[3] these being the municipalities of Odessa, Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhia, Sevastopol, Dnipropetrovsk, Luhansk and Krasny Luch; and the Oblasts of Odessa, Zaporizhia, Donetsk, Kherson, Mykolaiv and Dnipropetrovsk.[4] Hungarian has been made a regional language in the town of Berehove in Zakarpattia Oblast, Moldovan in the village of Tarasivtsi (Chernivtsi Oblast),[4] and Romanian in the village of Bila Tserkva; also in Zakarpattia Oblast.[4] These languages will now be used in city/Oblast administrative office work and documents.[4] As of September 2012 there were no plans for such bilingualism in Kiev.[32] Chairmen of the Supreme Council of Crimea Volodomyr Konstantinov stated in March 2013 that the August 2012 law had changed nothing in Crimea.[33]

Proposals for repeal and revision

See also: 2014 Crimean crisis

On February 23, 2014, the second day after the flight of Viktor Yanukovich, while in a parliamentary session, a deputy from "Batkivshchina" Vyacheslav Kyrylenko moved to include in the agenda a bill that would have repealed the 2012 law "On the principles of the state language policy". The motion was carried with 232 deputies voting in favor. The bill was included into the agenda, immediately put to a vote with no debate and approved with the same 232 voting in favor. The bill would have made Ukrainian the sole state language at all levels.[5][34]

The attempt to repeal the 2012 law "On the principles of the state language policy" was met with great disdain in Crimea and Southern and Eastern Ukraine, provoking waves of protests against the Maidan installed government[35] ultimately culminating with the Crimean crisis.

Passage of the repeal bill was met with regret by the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe.[36] The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities expressed concern over possible further unrest.[37] The bill was also criticized by the Ambassador for Human Rights, of the Russian foreign ministry.[38] Bulgarian and Romanian foreign ministers evaluated it as a step in the wrong direction,[39] and the Greek foreign minister expressed disappointment.[40] The Hungarian foreign ministry expressed serious concerns, noting that the decision "could question the commitment of the new Ukrainian administration towards democracy".[41] The Polish foreign minister called it a mistake.[42]

After urgently ordering a working group to draft a replacement law on February 27, acting President Oleksandr Turchynov vetoed the repeal bill on 28 February.[43]

On 7 April 2014 former BYuT leader Yulia Tymoshenko stated she supported the 2012 language law.[44]

References

  1. ^ a b c Lytvyn:Program for development of Ukrainian language should be adopted before elections, Kyiv Post (24 August 2012)
  2. ^ a b c d e Ukrainians protest against Russian language law, The Guardian (4 July 2012)
  3. ^ a b See here for further information and news by Kyiv Post
  4. ^ a b c d e Romanian becomes regional language in Bila Tserkva in Zakarpattia region, Kyiv Post (24 September 2012)
  5. ^ a b "На Украине отменили закон о региональном статусе русского языка". Lenta.ru. Retrieved 2014-02-23.
  6. ^ a b "Ukraine's parliament-appointed acting president says language law to stay effective". ITAR-TASS. 2014-03-01.
  7. ^ http://2001.ukrcensus.gov.ua/eng/results/general/language/
  8. ^ Language Policy in the Soviet Union by L.A. Grenoble
  9. ^ Rushed law on Russian provokes Ukraine fury, The Scotsman (4 July 2012)
  10. ^ Language law triggers violence in Ukraine, Financial Times (4 July 2012)
  11. ^ Ukraine police clash with Kiev crowd over language law, BBC News (4 July 2012)
  12. ^ Template:Uk icon Регіонали удостоїлися медалі Пушкіна Regionals were awarded medal Pushkin, TSN.ua (19 February 2013)
  13. ^ Template:Uk icon Проект Закону про засади державної мовної політики
  14. ^ Template:Uk iconКолесніченко B. В Київському Національному університеті ім. Тараса Шевченка підтримали необхідність прийняття законопроекту "Про засади державної мовної політики" 18 травня 2012
  15. ^ a b Template:Uk icon 67 institutions of public society reasonably urged deputies not to vote for adoption of the Bill on the principles of the state language policy
  16. ^ Template:Uk icon Венеціанська комісія не побачила у мовному законопроекті гарантій захисту української[unreliable source?]
  17. ^ Template:Uk icon Венеціанська комісія звинуватила "регіоналів" у передвиборчих провокаціях[unreliable source?]
  18. ^ Template:Ru icon В. Колесниченко «Венецианская комиссия» впервые одобрила проект закона Украины «Об основах государственной языковой политики» (текст выводов) Russian-speaking Ukraine 2011
  19. ^ Template:Uk icon КЛЮЄВ ПРИЇХАВ ДО РАДИ ЛАМАТИ ДЕПУТАТІВ
  20. ^ Template:Uk icon Під Радою ставитимуть намети
  21. ^ Template:Uk icon Міліція попередила, що краще не ставити намети під Радою
  22. ^ Template:Uk icon Video footage on YouTube
  23. ^ Template:Uk icon Video footage on YouTube
  24. ^ Template:Uk icon ЛИТВИН ЗАКРИВ ЗАСІДАННЯ РАДИ НА ПІВСЛОВІ
  25. ^ Template:Uk icon Єфремов упевнений, що Колесніченко потрапив в історію
  26. ^ Template:Uk icon БЮТІВЦЯ ПОБИЛИ ДО КРОВІ. Колесніченку порвали сорочку
  27. ^ Template:Uk icon Єфремов: БЮТівець сам розбив собі голову
  28. ^ Template:Uk icon "Регіони" запевняють, що "шабаш" не завадить їм "захистити мову"
  29. ^ Template:Uk icon Лідер "Регіоналів" обіцяє, що мовою ще займуться
  30. ^ a b Language law comes into force in Ukraine, Kyiv Post (10 August 2012)
  31. ^ Template:Ru iconПрезидент подписал Закон и поручил Правительству создать рабочую группу 2012
  32. ^ Popov:No bilingualism in Kyiv, Kyiv Post (19 September 2012)
  33. ^ Template:Uk icon "Мовний" закон Колесніченка-Ківалова нічого не дав Криму "Language" law Kolesnichenko-Kivalov gave Crimea nothing, Ukrayinska Pravda (27 March 2013)
  34. ^ Ukraine: Speaker Oleksandr Turchynov named interim president, BBC News (23 February 2014)
  35. ^ Новости NEWSru.com :: На Украине протестуют против начатой новыми властями борьбы с русским языком
  36. ^ Совет Европы призвал Киев соблюдать права нацменьшинств Deutsche WelleTemplate:Ru icon
  37. ^ Restraint, responsibility and dialogue needed in Ukraine, including Crimea, says OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities
  38. ^ Долгов: отмена закона о языке ущемляет права нацменьшинства на Украине RIA NovostiTemplate:Ru icon
  39. ^ Statement of the Spokesman of the MFA on the cancellation of the law on state language policy by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on 23 February 2014 Bulgarian MFA 24.02.2014Template:Ref-en
  40. ^ МИД Греции разочарован решением Рады запретить использование языков нацменьшинств ITAR-TASS Template:Ru icon
  41. ^ Repealing the language law could question Ukraine’s democratic commitment 25.02.2014
  42. ^ Сикорский счел ошибкой отмену закона о региональных языках на Украине RIA Novosti Template:Ru icon
  43. ^ Kramer, Andrew (2 March 2014). "Ukraine Turns to Its Oligarchs for Political Help".
  44. ^ Russian language must retain regional language status – Tymoshenko, Interfax-Ukraine (7 April 2014)

Template:2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine

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