Language policy in Ukraine#2017 Education Law

{{see also|Russification of Ukraine}}

File:Ukraine census 2001 Russian.svg. Russian was a regional language in 13 regions (shaded) with 10% or higher before the repeal of the 2012 languages law.]]

Since the fall of the Soviet Union and the independence of Ukraine, the Russian language has dwindled. In 2001 it remained one of the two most used languages for business, legal proceedings, science, artistry, and many other spheres of everyday life. According to the 2001 census, 67.5% of the citizens of Ukraine regarded Ukrainian as their native language, with Russian being considered the native language for another 29.6%. Various other languages constituted the remaining 2.9%.{{Cite web|url=http://2001.ukrcensus.gov.ua/eng/results/general/language/|title=About number and composition population of UKRAINE by All-Ukrainian population census'2001 data|website=2001.ukrcensus.gov.ua|access-date=2019-05-06}}

During the Soviet era, the status of Ukrainian was legally codified in 1922, when Ukrainian and Russian were declared to be of "national significance" and schools were allowed to use them both in teaching; they were never adopted as official languages of Soviet Ukraine but had formally equal status as "generally used languages".{{cite book |last=Grenoble |first=Lenore A. |title=Language Policy in the Soviet Union |publisher=Kluwer Academic Publishers |year=2003 |volume=3 |isbn=0-306-48083-2 |publication-place=New York, Boston, Dordrecht, London, Moscow |doi=10.1007/0-306-48083-2|s2cid=127542313 }} In practice, however, Ukrainian was mainly a rural language and had lower prestige than Russian, which was the language of the educated urban society. After an initial phase of official commitment to Ukrainization in the 1920s and early 1930s, the Soviet era was marked by an increasing trend toward Russification. In 1938 the study of Russian was made obligatory and in 1958 the study of the mother-tongue was made optional. From 1959 to 1989, on average 60-70% of the population spoke Ukrainian and 20% spoke Russian; Yiddish was also widely spoken by the decreasing Jewish population (from 14% in 1959 to 3.9% in 1989).

On 28 October 1989, the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR adopted the "Law of Languages".{{sfn|Azhniuk|2017|p=311}} The Ukrainian language was declared the only official language, while the other languages spoken in Ukraine were guaranteed constitutional protection. The government was obliged to create the conditions required for the development and use of Ukrainian language as well as languages of other ethnic groups, including Russian. Usage of other languages, along with Ukrainian, was allowed in local institutions located in places of residence of the majority of citizens of the corresponding ethnicities.^{[clarification needed]} Citizens were guaranteed the right to use their native or any other languages and were entitled to address various institutions and organisations in Ukrainian, in Russian, or in another language of their work, or in a language acceptable to the parties.{{Cite web |title=MINELRES - Minority related national legislation - Ukraine - language |url=https://minelres.lv/NationalLegislation/Ukraine/Ukraine_Language_English.htm |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=minelres.lv}}

The adoption of the "Law on Languages" preceded the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine (24 August 1991) by almost two years.{{sfn|Azhniuk|2017|p=311}} The Ukrainian SSR was still part of the Soviet Union, and its parliament still dominated by the Communist Party of Ukraine.{{sfn|Azhniuk|2017|p=311}} After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991, the law, with some minor amendments, remained in force in the independent Ukrainian state.{{sfn|Azhniuk|2017|p=311}} Ever since, there have been discussions on the potential adoption as Russian as a co-official language alongside Ukrainian, particularly raising debates during presidential and parliamentary election campaigns.{{sfn|Azhniuk|2017|p=311}} Leonid Kuchma had made raising the status of Russian one of his 1994 electoral promises, but did not deliver it during his presidency.{{sfn|Azhniuk|2017|p=311}}

The Constitution of Ukraine, adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on 28 June 1996, states at article 10: "The state language of Ukraine is the Ukrainian language. The State ensures the comprehensive development and functioning of the Ukrainian language in all spheres of social life throughout the entire territory of Ukraine. In Ukraine, the free development, use and protection of Russian, and other languages of national minorities of Ukraine, is guaranteed".{{Cite web|url=http://www.rada.gov.ua/const/conengl.htm|title=Constitution of Ukraine|date=28 June 1996|website=rada.gov.ua|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521190059/http://www.rada.gov.ua/const/conengl.htm|archive-date=2011-05-21|access-date=2019-05-23|quote=The state language of Ukraine is the Ukrainian language. The State ensures the comprehensive development and functioning of the Ukrainian language in all spheres of social life throughout the entire territory of Ukraine. In Ukraine, the free development, use and protection of Russian, and other languages of national minorities of Ukraine, is guaranteed.}}

On 7 February 2012 members of the Verkhovna Rada Serhii Kivalov and Vadym Kolesnychenko (both from the Party of Regions) entered a bill (commonly called "Kolesnychenko-Kivalov language bill"), that would have given the status of regional language to Russian and other minority languages. It allowed the use of minority languages in courts, schools and other government institutions in areas of Ukraine where the national minorities exceed 10% of the population.

Supporters of the 2012 bill argued it would have made life easier for Russian-speaking Ukrainians.{{Cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/international/rushed-law-on-russian-provokes-ukraine-fury-1-2391004 |title=Rushed law on Russian provokes Ukraine fury |date=4 July 2012 |work=The Scotsman |language=en}} Opponents feared that the adoption of Russian as a minority language could have spread rapidly, challenging Ukrainian and causing splits between eastern and western Ukraine.[http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/98ab721e-c5eb-11e1-a3d5-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1zgBJy1GX Language law triggers violence in Ukraine], Financial Times (4 July 2012) In practice Russian at the time was already used widely{{specify|date=August 2012}} in official establishments in Ukraine.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18702759|title=Ukraine clash over language law|date=2012-07-04|work=BBC|access-date=2019-05-06|language=en-GB}}

{{Infobox legislation

| short_title = Kolesnychenko-Kivalov language law

| long_title = On the principles of the state language policy

| 1st_reading = 5 June 2012{{cite web|url=https://arbitrationlaw.com/library/law-ukraine-principles-state-language-policy-jel-2012-vol-5-no-1|title=Law of Ukraine "On Principles of the State Language Policy" - JEL 2012 Vol. 5, No. 1|website=Juris Arbitration Law|access-date=30 May 2019}}

| 2nd_reading = 3 July 2012

| introduced_by = Kolesnychenko and Kivalov

| date_enacted =

| repeals = 28 February 2018

| status = repealed

| date_signed = 8 August 2012

| signed_by = Viktor Yanukovych

| date_effective = 10 August 2012

| legislature = Verkhovna Rada

| image = Lesser Coat of Arms of Ukraine.svg

| bill = Bill n. 9073, "On the principles of the state language policy"{{Cite web|url=http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb_n/webproc4_1?id=&pf3511=41018|title=Проект Закону про засади державної мовної політики|website=rada.gov.ua|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902022121/http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb_n/webproc4_1?id=&pf3511=41018|archive-date=2 September 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=2019-05-30}}

}}

In May 2012 Vadym Kolesnychenko, one of the authors of the 2012 language law, claimed that the law was supported by several higher education bodies, scientists and NGOs.{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.pravda.com.ua/authors/kolesnichenko/4fb618767dc8f/|title=В Київському Національному університеті ім. Тараса Шевченка підтримали необхідність прийняття законопроекту "Про засади державної мовної політики"|last=Kolesnichenko|first=Vadym|date=18 May 2012|website=blogs.pravda.com.ua|access-date=2019-05-07}} On 9 February 2013, Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded him and another author of the language law, Serhiy Kivalov, with the Medal of Pushkin for their "great contribution to the preservation and promotion of the Russian language and culture abroad".{{Cite web |date=2013-02-19 |script-title=uk:Путін нагородив авторів "мовного закону" Ківалова та Колесніченка |trans-title=Putin awarded the authors of the "language law" Kivalov and Kolesnichenko |url=https://tsn.ua/politika/putin-nagorodiv-avtoriv-movnogo-zakonu-kivalova-ta-kolesnichenka-282799.html |access-date=2019-05-06 |website=ТСН.ua |language=uk}}

Some say that the bill contradicts the Constitution of Ukraine, violates the Budget Code, and aims to annihilate the Ukrainian language.{{cn|date=April 2024}} It suffered a criticism in the conclusions of state authorities and their departments: the Main Scientific-Expert Bureau of the Ukrainian Parliament (23 May 2012),{{Cite web|url=http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc4_1?pf3511=41018|title=Офіційний портал Верховної Ради України|website=w1.c1.rada.gov.ua}} the Parliamentary Committee on Culture and Spirituality (September 23, 2011), the Parliamentary Committee on Budget (3 November 2011), Ministry of Finance (9 September 2011), the Ministry of Justice (27 September 2011).{{Cite web|url=https://maidan.org.ua/2012/07/67-instytutsij-hromadyanskoho-suspilstva-arhumentovano-zaklykaly-deputativ-ne-holosuvaty-za-pryjnyattya-zakonoproektu-pro-zasady-derzhavnoji-movnoji-polityky/|title=67 інституцій громадянського суспільства аргументовано закликали депутатів не голосувати за прийняття законопроекту "Про засади державної мовної політики"|date=2012-07-03|website=сайт Майдан|language=uk|trans-title=67 institutions of public society reasonably urged deputies not to vote for adoption of the Bill on the principles of the state language policy|access-date=2019-05-06}} The bill also failed to obtain the support of the specialized institutions of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine: the Linguistics Institute, the Institute of the Ukrainian Language, the Institute of political and ethno-national researches, the Shevchenko Institute of Literature, the Institute of State and Law, the Ukrainian linguistic-informational Fund, the Philology Institute of Kyiv University, and the Academy of Sciences of the High School of Ukraine.

In December 2011, the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe issued an opinion on the draft law questioning whether the parallel use of Ukrainian and Russian was in compliance with article 10 of the Constitution:{{Cite web |date=19 December 2011 |title=Opinion on the Draft Law on Principles of the State Language Policy of Ukraine – Adopted by the Venice Commission at its 89th Plenary Session (Venice, 16-17 December 2011) On the basis of comments by Mr Sergio BARTOLE (Substitute Member, Italy) Mr Jan VELAERS (Member, Belgium) |url=https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDL-AD(2011)047-e |website=venice.coe.int}} "the question remains whether [...] there are sufficient guarantees, in the current Draft Law, for the consolidation of the Ukrainian language as the sole State language, and of the role it has to play in the Ukrainian multilinguistic society".

Ukrayinska Pravda reported that the Venice Commission did not find in the draft law enough guarantees for the protection of the Ukrainian language,{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2011/12/17/6845714/|script-title=uk:Венеціанська комісія не побачила у мовному законопроекті гарантій захисту української|website=Українська правда|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-06}} and that the commission had come to the conclusion that the proposed law was just "another tool of the election campaign" for the Party of Regions.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2011/12/20/6851586/|script-title=uk:Венеціанська комісія звинуватила “регіоналів” у передвиборчих провокаціях|website=Українська правда|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-06}} Kolesnichenko, one of the authors of the law, claimed that the Opinion was "generally supportive",{{in lang|ru}} В. Колесниченко [http://www.r-u.org.ua/akt/6409-news.html «Венецианская комиссия» впервые одобрила проект закона Украины «Об основах государственной языковой политики» (текст выводов)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120703045852/http://www.r-u.org.ua/akt/6409-news.html |date=3 July 2012 }} Russian-speaking Ukraine 2011{{unreliable source?|date=January 2015}} but the opponents noted that it contained strong criticism about the failure to protect the role of Ukrainian as the State language.{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.ua/politics/584073-u-zakoni-pro-movnu-politiku-ne-garantovaniy-zahist-ukrajinskoji-movi.html|script-title=uk:У законі про мовну політику не гарантований захист української мови|website=www.unian.ua|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-06}}{{Cite web|url=https://glavcom.ua/publications/116211-skandalnij-visnovok-venetsianskoji-komisiji-shchodo-movi.-dokument.html|script-title=uk:Скандальний висновок Венеціанської комісії щодо мови. Документ|website=glavcom.ua|date=20 December 2011 |language=uk|access-date=2019-05-06}}

Prior to 24 May 2012, there were rumors that a 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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2012/05/24/6965229/|script-title=uk:КЛЮЄВ ПРИЇХАВ ДО РАДИ ЛАМАТИ ДЕПУТАТІВ|website=Українська правда|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-04}} Some 1,000 protesters gathered just outside the Verkhovna Rada building setting up another tent city.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2012/05/24/6965236/|script-title=uk:Під Радою ставитимуть намети|website=Українська правда|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-06}} State law enforcement warned the protesters not to establish a tent city.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2012/05/24/6965250/|script-title=uk:Міліція попередила, що краще не ставити намети під Радою|website=Українська правда|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-04}}

At the evening session, the parliamentary opposition in the Verkhovna Rada (Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc and Our Ukraine-People's Self-Defense Bloc) 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{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2012/05/24/6965233/|script-title=uk:ЛИТВИН ЗАКРИВ ЗАСІДАННЯ РАДИ НА ПІВСЛОВІ|website=Українська правда|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-04}} the session as further discussion descended into another fight{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2012/05/24/6965251/|script-title=uk:Єфремов упевнений, що Колесніченко потрапив в історію|website=Українська правда|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-04}} leaving some members of parliament injured.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2012/05/24/6965235/|script-title=uk:БЮТІВЦЯ ПОБИЛИ ДО КРОВІ. Колесніченку порвали сорочку|website=Українська правда|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-04}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2012/05/24/6965245/|script-title=uk:Єфремов: БЮТівець сам розбив собі голову|website=Українська правда|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-04}}

The Party of Regions released a statement to the press where it accused the opposition of impeding the enactment of a bill that protects some constitutional rights of millions of citizens of Ukraine.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2012/05/24/6965255/|script-title=uk:“Регіони” запевняють, що “шабаш” не завадить їм “захистити мову”|website=Українська правда|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-04}} PoR leader in parliament Yefremov promised to revisit the issue once everything is stable.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2012/05/24/6965246/|script-title=uk:Лідер “Регіоналів” обіцяє, що мовою ще займуться|website=Українська правда|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-04}}

The bill was eventually adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on second reading on 3 July 2012; it was supported by the Party of Regions, the Communist Party of Ukraine and the Lytvyn Bloc, while it was strongly opposed by the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc and the Our Ukraine-People's Self-Defence Bloc. The bill was to come into force only after it was signed by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and the Chairman of Parliament. But the Chairman of Parliament Volodymyr Lytvyn tendered his resignation on 4 July 2012. However, the Verkhovna Rada twice held votes of confidence in the speaker, and did not accept his resignation. On 31 July, Lytvyn signed the law.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/article/content/language-bill/language-law-comes-into-force-in-ukraine-311340.html|title=Language law comes into force in Ukraine - Aug. 10, 2012|date=2012-08-10|website=KyivPost|access-date=2019-05-04}} The bill was signed by President Yanukovych on 8 August 2012.{{Cite web|url=http://www.president.gov.ua/ru/news/24960.html|title=Президент подписал Закон и поручил Правительству создать рабочую группу|date=8 October 2012|website=president.gov.ua|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140127183410/http://www.president.gov.ua/ru/news/24960.html|archive-date=27 January 2014|access-date=2019-05-04}} The law came into force on 10 August 2012.

Since then, various Ukrainian cities and regions have declared Russian a regional language in their jurisdictions, these being the municipalities of Odesa, Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhia, Sevastopol, Dnipropetrovsk, Luhansk and Krasny Luch; and the oblasts of Odesa, Zaporizhia, Donetsk, Kherson, Mykolaiv and Dnipropetrovsk.{{Cite news |url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/romanian-becomes-regional-language-in-bila-tserkva-in-zakarpattia-region-313373.html |title=Romanian becomes regional language in Bila Tserkva in Zakarpattia region |date=2012-09-24 |work=Kyiv Post |agency=Interfax-Ukraine |language=en-US}} Hungarian has been made a regional language in the town of Berehove ({{langx|hu|Beregszász}}) in the Zakarpattia Oblast, "Moldovan" in the village of Tarasivtsi ({{langx|ro|Tărăsăuți}}) in the Chernivtsi Oblast, and Romanian in the village of Bila Tserkva ({{langx|ro|Biserica Albă|link=no}}) also in the Zakarpattia Oblast. From then on, those languages could be used in city/Oblast administrative office work and documents. As of September 2012 there were no plans for such bilingualism in Kyiv.{{Cite news |url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/kyiv/popov-no-bilingualism-in-kyiv-313178.html |title=Popov: No bilingualism in Kyiv |date=2012-09-19 |work=Kyiv Post |agency=Interfax-Ukraine |language=en-US}} Chairman of the Supreme Council of Crimea Volodomyr Konstantinov stated in March 2013 that the August 2012 law had changed nothing in Crimea.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2013/03/27/6986562/|script-title=uk:“Мовний” закон Колесніченка-Ківалова нічого не дав Криму|website=Українська правда|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-04}}

{{see also|Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation}}

On February 23, 2014, the second day after the flight of Viktor Yanukovich, while in a parliamentary session, a deputy from the Batkivshchyna party, Vyacheslav Kyrylenko, moved to include in the agenda a bill to repeal the 2012 law "On the principles of the state language policy". The motion was carried with 86% of the votes in favour—232 deputies in favour vs 37 opposed against the required minimum of 226 of 334 votes. The bill was included in the agenda, immediately put to a vote with no debate and approved with the same 232 voting in favour. The bill would have made Ukrainian the sole state language at all levels.{{cite web|url=http://lenta.ru/news/2014/02/23/language/ |title=На Украине отменили закон о региональном статусе русского языка |publisher=Lenta.ru |access-date=2014-02-23}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26312008 |title=Ukraine: Speaker Oleksandr Turchynov named interim president |date=2014-02-23 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} Still, all the minority languages (including Russian) remain explicitly protected under article 10 of the Ukrainian Constitution. The repeal would also bring back into force the previous law on languages, which was in place in Ukraine for 23 years before July 2012 and was regulating the use of the minority languages.

However, the move to repeal the 2012 law "On the principles of the state language policy" provoked negative reactions in Crimea and in some regions of Southern and Eastern Ukraine. It became one of the topics of the protests against the new government approved by the parliament after the flight of Viktor Yanukovich.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsru.com/world/26feb2014/ukr_russian.html|title=На Украине протестуют против начатой новыми властями борьбы с русским языком|date=26 February 2014|website=NEWSru.com}}

Passage of the repeal bill was met with regret by the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/ru/%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|script-title=ru:Совет Европы призвал Киев соблюдать права меньшинств|date=3 March 2014|website=Deutsche Welle|language=ru-RU|access-date=2019-05-04}} The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities expressed concern over possible further unrest. He also proposed to give advice and facilitate discussions on new legislation, declaring that "we must avoid the mistakes made last time [in 2012] when unbalanced legislation was adopted without a proper dialogue in the Verkhovna Rada."{{Cite web|url=https://www.osce.org/hcnm/115643|title=Restraint, responsibility and dialogue needed in Ukraine, including Crimea, says OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities {{!}} OSCE|website=osce.org|access-date=2019-05-04}} The bill was also criticized by the Ambassador for Human Rights of the Russian foreign ministry.{{in lang|ru}} [http://ria.ru/world/20140225/996988557.html Долгов: отмена закона о языке ущемляет права нацменьшинства на Украине] RIA Novosti Bulgarian and Romanian foreign ministers evaluated it as a step in the wrong direction,{{Cite web|url=https://www.mfa.bg/en/events/6/1/1311/index.html|title=Nickolay Mladenov: All agreed that a political solution to the problem in Afghanistan should be found, Deutsche Welle Radio, January 29, 2010|website=www.mfa.bg|language=en|access-date=2019-05-04}} and the Greek foreign minister expressed disappointment.{{Cite web|url=https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/1004051|title=МИД Греции разочарован решением Рады запретить использование языков нацменьшинств|website=ITAR-TASS|access-date=2019-05-04}} The Hungarian foreign ministry expressed serious concerns, noting that the decision "could question the commitment of the new Ukrainian administration towards democracy".[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] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304195112/http://www.kormany.hu/en/ministry-of-foreign-affairs/news/repealing-the-language-law-could-question-ukraine-s-democratic-commitment |date=4 March 2014 }} 25.02.2014 The Polish foreign minister called it a mistake.{{Cite web|url=https://ria.ru/20140227/997220812.html|script-title=ru:Сикорский счел ошибкой отмену закона о региональных языках на Украине|date=27 February 2014|website=РИА Новости|language=ru|access-date=2019-05-04}} According to Uilleam Blacker writing for openDemocracy, the repeal bill contained no specific threat to the Russian language.{{Cite web|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/odr/no-real-threat-to-ukraines-russian-speakers-language-law-ban/|title=No real threat to Ukraine's Russian speakers|website=openDemocracy|access-date=2019-05-04}}{{Cite web|url=http://euromaidanpress.com/2014/05/25/ukrainian-vs-russian-the-ban-that-never-was/|title=Ukrainian Vs Russian: The Ban That Never Was|last=Euromaidan Press Staff|date=2014-05-25|website=Euromaidan Press|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-04}}

After urgently ordering a working group to draft a replacement law on February 27, acting President Oleksandr Turchynov declared on 3 March that he will not sign the repeal bill until a replacement law is adopted to "accommodate the interests of both eastern and western Ukraine and of all ethnic groups and minorities".{{in lang|uk}} [http://ua.korrespondent.net/ukraine/politics/3314338-turchynov-vidmovyvsia-pidpysaty-rishennia-rady-pro-skasuvannia-zakonu-pro-movy Турчинов відмовився підписати рішення Ради про скасування закону про мови] Кorrespondent.net, 3 березня 2014{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/03/world/europe/ukraine-turns-to-its-oligarchs-for-political-help.html |title=Ukraine Turns to Its Oligarchs for Political Help |last=Kramer |first=Andrew |date=2 March 2014 |work=The New York Times |language=en}}{{cite web |date=2014-03-01 |title=Ukraine's parliament-appointed acting president says language law to stay effective |url=https://tass.com/world/721537 |publisher=ITAR-TASS}} Since then the repeal bill has not been signed nor vetoed by the President, and its status has long remained "ready for sign".{{Cite web|url=http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc4_1?pf3511=45291|title=Офіційний портал Верховної Ради України|website=w1.c1.rada.gov.ua|access-date=2019-05-04}}

On 7 April 2014, Batkivshchyna leader Yulia Tymoshenko stated she supported the 2012 language law.{{Cite web|url=https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/199537.html|title=Russian language must retain regional language status – Tymoshenko|date=7 April 2014|website=Interfax-Ukraine|access-date=2019-05-04}} On 3 November 2014, newly elected president Petro Poroshenko declared that the language policy in Ukraine will be amended.{{Cite web|url=http://www.president.gov.ua/news/31564.html|title=Вітання Президента України з нагоди Всеукраїнського дня працівників культури та майстрів народного мистецтва і Дня української писемності та мови|date=9 November 2014|website=president.gov.ua|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213211012/http://www.president.gov.ua/news/31564.html|archive-date=13 February 2015}}

On 10 July 2014, 57 parliamentary deputies appealed the Constitutional Court of Ukraine to review the 2012 law "On the principles of the state language policy". On 10 October 2014, the court opened the proceedings on the constitutionality of the law. On 14 December 2016, the Constitutional Court ended the oral proceedings, and on 13 January 2017, moved to the closed part of the process.{{in lang|uk}} [http://pda.pravda.com.ua/news/id_7132076/ KSU will continue to review "the law Kolesnichenko-Kivalov" behind closed doors], Ukrayinska Pravda (10 January 2017)
[http://pda.pravda.com.ua/news/id_7132390/ CCU will continue to review "the law Kolesnichenko-Kivalov" January 19], Ukrayinska Pravda (13 January 2017) On 28 February 2018, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine ruled the law unconstitutional.

In April 2015, the Verkhovna Rada passed a law banning communist as well as Nazi propaganda and symbols.{{Cite news |date=2015-04-14 |title=Goodbye, Lenin: Ukraine moves to ban communist symbols |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32267075 |access-date=2022-03-22}} The names of cities, villages, streets and squares that referred to communist slogans and leaders fell under the ban and had to be changed.{{sfn|Reznik|2018|p=182}} According to Volodymyr Viatrovych, who had inspired the law, in October 2016 Ukraine's toponymy had undergone a complete process of decommunization, including in the Donbas region.{{sfn|Reznik|2018|p=183}} Former Dnipropetrovsk became Dnipro, and Kirovohrad became Kropyvnytskyi.

The de-Russification of Ukrainian toponymy implied also the removal from railways and airports of any information board written in Russian; as of December 2016, all information had to be given only in Ukrainian and English.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-26 |title=The cost of Ukraine's de-Russification |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/the-cost-of-ukraines-de-russification/ |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=POLITICO |language=en-US}} Free Ukrainian language courses for civil servants working in the Donetsk regional administration were organised, and from January 2017 Ukrainian became the only language of official and interpersonal communication in public institutions.{{sfn|Reznik|2018|p=183}}

In June 2016, a new law was enacted requiring Ukraine's radio stations to play a quota of Ukrainian-language songs each day. At least a quarter of a radio station's daily playlist had to be in Ukrainian from then on, rising to 30% in 12 months' time and 35% a year after that. The law also required TV and radio broadcasters to ensure at least 60% of programs such as news and analysis are in Ukrainian.{{Cite news |date=2016-11-08 |title=Ukraine imposes language quotas for radio playlists |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-37908828 |access-date=2022-03-22}} The law entered into force on 9 November, the national day for Ukrainian Language and Literacy.{{sfn|Reznik|2018|p=183}} President Petro Poroshenko hailed the law calling on people to share their favourite Ukrainian song on social medias,{{Cite web |date=2016-11-08 |title=Порошенко: Кожна четверта пісня на радіо тепер буде українською мовою |url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2016/11/8/7126097/ |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=Українська правда (Ukrayinska Pravda) |language=uk}} while the pro-Russian Opposition Bloc criticised the law and said people had the right to decide for themselves what to listen to, and in which language. According to The Economist, the passage of a law downgrading Russian in Ukraine could have helped "spark war in that country; Vladimir Putin has used it as evidence that Ukrainian nationalists are bent on wiping out Russian culture there."{{Cite news |date=2016-01-28 |title=What would the doctor prescribe? |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/books-and-arts/2016/01/28/what-would-the-doctor-prescribe |access-date=2022-03-22 |issn=0013-0613}}

In May 2017, Verkhovna Rada enacted an analogous law prescribing a 75% Ukrainian-language quotas in all television channels operating in Ukraine.{{sfn|Reznik|2018|p=183}}

Ukraine's 2017 education law made Ukrainian the required language of study in state schools from the fifth grade on, i.e. at the basic secondary and upper secondary levels, although it allowed instruction in other languages as a separate subject,{{Cite web |last=Sasse |first=Gwendolyn |date=October 2, 2017 |title=Ukraine's Poorly Timed Education Law |url=https://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/73272 |website=Carnegie Europe}}{{cite news |date=8 December 2017 |title=Criticism of Ukraine's language law justified: rights body |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-language/criticism-of-ukraines-language-law-justified-rights-body-idUSKBN1E227K}}{{Cite web |last=Wesolowsky |first=Tony |date=September 24, 2017 |title=Ukrainian Language Bill Facing Barrage Of Criticism From Minorities, Foreign Capitals |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-language-legislation-minority-languages-russia-hungary-romania/28753925.html |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |language=en}} to be phased in 2023.{{Cite web |date=2018-02-14 |title=Ukraine agrees to concessions to Hungary in language row |url=https://www.unian.info/politics/2395156-ukraine-agrees-to-concessions-to-hungary-in-language-row.html |access-date=2020-04-14 |website=Unian |language=en}} Education in minority languages in kindergarten and primary school remained unchanged, but at secondary level, students could only learn their native languages as a separate subject.{{Cite web |date=September 26, 2017 |title=Ukrainian President Signs Controversial Language Bill Into Law |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/ukrainian-poroshenko-signs-controversial-language-bill-into-law/28757195.html |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty |language=en}} Additionally, from grade five onwards, two or more subjects could be taught in any of the languages of the EU, which include minority languages such as Hungarian, Polish and Romanian but not Belarusian, Yiddish and Russian.{{Cite report |url=https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL-AD(2017)030-e |title=Opinion 902/2017. On the provisions of the Law on Education of 5 September 2017 which concern the use of the state language and minority and other languages in education, adopted by the Venice Commission at its 113th Plenary Session (8-9 December 2017) |date=11 December 2017 |publisher=European Commission for Democracy through Law |docket=CDL-AD(2017)030-e |place=Strasbourg}}

The 2017 education law provoked harsh reactions in Hungary, Romania, Russia, Poland, Bulgaria and other countries. The Romanian parliament passed a motion condemning the law and warned that Ukraine could not proceed towards EU integration without respecting the language rights of national minorities. The Russian Duma and Federation Council also adopted a resolution lamenting the violation of the language rights of the Russian-speaking minority in Ukraine. The Hungary–Ukraine relations rapidly deteriorated over the issue of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine, as the education law was accused of being nationalistic and needlessly provocative.{{cite news |date=27 September 2017 |title=Ukraine defends education reform as Hungary promises 'pain' |newspaper=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/ukraine-defends-education-reform-as-hungary-promises-pain-1.3235916}}"[https://www.neweurope.eu/article/hungary-ukraine-relations-hit-new-low-troop-deployment/ Hungary-Ukraine relations hit new low over troop deployment] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331181346/https://www.neweurope.eu/article/hungary-ukraine-relations-hit-new-low-troop-deployment/ |date=31 March 2019 }}". New Europe. 26 March 2018. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko defended the law, claiming that "The law ensures equal opportunities for all ... It guarantees every graduate strong language skills essential for a successful career in Ukraine".{{Cite web |date=2017-09-26 |title=Ukrainian President Signs Controversial Language Bill Into Law |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/ukrainian-poroshenko-signs-controversial-language-bill-into-law/28757195.html |access-date=2020-04-14 |website=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty |language=en}} Hungary is since 2017 blocking Ukraine's attempt to integrate within the EU and NATO to help the Hungarian minority in Ukraine.{{Cite web|url=https://emerging-europe.com/news/hungary-and-ukraine-continue-war-of-words-over-minority-rights/|title=Hungary and Ukraine continue war of words over minority rights|first=Portia|last=Kentish|date=March 12, 2020|website=Emerging Europe | Intelligence, Community, News}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/hungary-pm-criticizes-ukraine-says-no-rush-ratify-swedens-nato-bid-2023-09-25/|title=Hungary PM criticizes Ukraine, says no rush to ratify Sweden's NATO bid|date=25 September 2023|access-date=29 September 2023|publisher=Reuters}}

On 7 December 2017, the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) stated that criticism of the law seemed justified, as the shift to all-Ukrainian secondary education could infringe on the rights of ethnic minorities.{{Cite web |date=8 December 2017 |title=Criticism of Ukraine's language law justified: rights body |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-language-idUSKBN1E227K |work=Reuters.com}} Moreover, according to the Venice Commission, allowing certain subjects to be taught in the official languages of the EU could discriminate against speakers of Russian, the most widely used non-state language. The Venice Commission formulated seven recommendations to the Ukrainian Government to amend the law; according to the new Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine has implemented six of these seven recommendations as of 2019.{{Cite news |date=31 October 2019 |title=Ukraine Has Implemented 6 Of 7 Venice Commission Recommendations On Education Law - Zelenskyy Tells Ukraine-NATO Commission |language=en |work=Ukrainian News Agency |url=https://ukranews.com/en/news/663121-ukraine-has-implemented-6-of-7-venice-commission-recommendations-on-education-law-zelenskyy-tells |access-date=}}

In January 2020 the law was changed and made it legal to teach "one or more disciplines" in "two or more languages – in the official state language, in English, in another official languages of the European Union".{{cite web |url=https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/articles/2020/01/17/7105243/|title=Reconciliation schools: do the new language norms rule Ukraine's conflict with Hungary|date=7 January 2020|access-date=29 September 2023|publisher=European Pravda|language=Ukrainian}} All not state funded schools were made free to choose their own language of instruction.

According to the 2020 law until the fifth year of education all lessons can be completely taught in the minority language without mandatory teaching of subjects in Ukrainian. In the fifth year not less than 20% of the lessons must be taught in Ukrainian. Then every year the volume of teaching in the state language (Ukrainian) should increase, reaching 40% in the ninth grade. In the twelfth and final year at least 60% of education should be taught in Ukrainian.

The 2017 language education law stipulated a 3-year transitional period to come in full effect.[https://www.unian.info/society/2159231-new-education-law-becomes-effective-in-ukraine.html New education law becomes effective in Ukraine][http://zakon2.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2145-19/page Про освіту] | від 05.09.2017 № 2145-VIII (Сторінка 1 з 7) In February 2018, this period was extended until 2023.[https://www.unian.info/m/politics/2395156-ukraine-agrees-to-concessions-to-hungary-in-language-row.html Ukraine agrees to concessions to Hungary in language row] In June 2023 this period was again extended to September 2024.{{cite web |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2023/06/10/7406297/|title=ВР продовжила перехідний період на українську для шкіл з мовами країн ЄС|date=10 June 2023|access-date=29 September 2023|publisher=European Pravda|language=Ukrainian}}

{{see also|Russian book ban in Ukraine}}

In September 2018, Lviv Oblast Council introduced a ban on the public use of the Russian-language cultural products (movies, books, songs, etc.) throughout the Lviv Oblast until the full cessation of the occupation of Ukraine's territory.{{cite news|url=https://www.unian.info/society/10266729-lviv-region-bans-movies-books-songs-in-russian-until-end-of-russian-occupation.html|title=Lviv region bans movies, books, songs in Russian until end of Russian occupation|date=19 September 2018|work=Unian}} Human rights activists and lawyers called the law ill-defined, illegal, and unconstitutional. The Lviv Regional Council decision was successfully challenged in an Administrative Court, among others by the Chuhuiv Human Rights Group; however, on 14 May 2019, the judgment of the Administrative Court was revoked on technical grounds by the Cassation Chamber of the Supreme Court of Ukraine.{{Cite web|url=http://khpg.org/en/index.php?id=1566261480|title='Russian language moratorium' headed for Strasbourg after Supreme Court reinstatement|last=Coynash|first=Halya|date=2019-08-20|website=Human Rights in Ukraine|access-date=2019-08-26}} The Chuhuiv Human Rights Group announced that they would file a lawsuit to the European Court of Human Rights against the ban. The ban was overturned in January 2019 by a court.{{Cite web |date=2019-05-24 |title=Мораторій на російськомовний продукт на Львівщині скасовано - LDN |url=https://ldn.org.ua/success-story/moratorij-na-rosijskomovnyj-produkt-na-lvivschyni-skasovano/ |access-date=2022-06-03 |website=ldn.org.ua |language=uk-UA}}

{{main|Law of Ukraine "On protecting the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the State language"}}

{{Infobox legislation

| short_title = "On protecting the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the State language"

| long_title = {{ill|On protecting the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the State language|uk|Про забезпечення функціонування української мови як державної|ar|قانون بشأن توفير أداء اللغة الأوكرانية كلغة للدولة}}

| citation =

| territorial_extent =

| enacted_by =

| date_enacted =

| 1st_reading = 4 October 2018

| 2nd_reading = 25 April 2019

| 3rd_reading =

| bill_date =

| introduced_by =

| summary =

| keywords =

| status = in force

| date_assented =

| date_signed = 15 May 2019

| signed_by = Petro Poroshenko

| date_commenced =

| date_effective = 16 July 2019{{Cite web | url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10618737-language-law-comes-to-force-in-ukraine.html | title=Language law comes to force in Ukraine}}

| legislature = Verkhovna Rada

| image = Lesser Coat of Arms of Ukraine.svg

| caption =

| bill = 5670-d, "On Protecting the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language"

| bill_citation =

}}

The law "On Protecting the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language" made the use of Ukrainian compulsory (totally or within certain quotas) in the work of some public authorities, in the electoral procedures and political campaigning, in pre-school, school and university education, in scientific, cultural and sporting activities, in book publishing and book distribution, in printed mass media, television and radio broadcasting, in economic and social life (commercial advertising, public events), in hospitals and nursing homes, and in the activities of political parties and other legal entities (e.g. non-governmental organizations) registered in Ukraine. Some special exemptions are provided for the Crimean Tatar language, other languages of indigenous peoples of Ukraine, the English language and the other official languages of the European Union; as languages of minorities that are not EU official languages, Russian, Belarusian and Yiddish are excluded from the exemptions.

On 4 October 2018, the Verkhovna Rada (the Ukrainian parliament) voted with a majority of 261 MPs in the first reading of a new language law (bill n. 5670-d, "On Protecting the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language"{{Cite web|url=http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc4_1?pf3511=61994|title=Проект Закону про забезпечення функціонування української мови як державної|website=w1.c1.rada.gov.ua|access-date=2019-02-22}}). Thereafter, the bill "was prepared for second reading for about four months. During this time, the Verkhovna Rada's committee on culture and spirituality worked out over 2,000 amendments to the document that were proposed by people's deputies. In particular, the document proposes creating the national commission on the standards of the state language and introducing the post of commissioner for the protection of the state language. Lawmakers started considering the document at second reading on February 28. The Verkhovna Rada continue[d] to review amendments to the bill during March 12–15 [2019]."{{Cite web|date=4 October 2018|title=Parliament passes bill on Ukrainian language at first reading|url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/2552057-parliament-passes-bill-on-ukrainian-language-at-first-reading.html|access-date=2019-02-02|website=www.ukrinform.net|language=en}} The Council of Europe asked the Verkhovna Rada to postpone the adoption of the bill until the post-election period.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-elections/2657965-council-of-europe-urges-ukraine-to-adopt-language-bill-after-elections.html|title=Council of Europe urges Ukraine to adopt language bill after elections|date=12 March 2019|website=www.ukrinform.net|language=en|access-date=2019-03-12}}

On 25 April 2019, the Ukrainian parliament adopted the law.{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10530402-draft-law-on-ukrainian-language-adopted-by-278-lawmakers.html|title=Draft law on Ukrainian language adopted by 278 lawmakers|date=25 April 2019|website=www.unian.info|language=en|access-date=2019-04-25}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-parliament-language-idUSKCN1S111N|title=Ukraine passes language law, irritating president-elect and Russia|date=2019-04-25|work=Reuters|access-date=2019-04-26|language=en}} Patriarch Filaret and former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko were present in the parliament during the vote.{{Cite web|last=Shandra|first=Alya|date=2019-04-25|title=Ukraine adopts law expanding scope of Ukrainian language|url=http://euromaidanpress.com/2019/04/25/ukraine-adopts-law-expanding-scope-of-ukrainian-language/|access-date=2019-04-27|website=Euromaidan Press|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2019-04-25|title=Ukraine Parliament has passed the law on the Ukrainian language|url=https://empr.media/news/ukraine/ukraine-parliament-has-passed-the-law-on-the-ukrainian-language/|access-date=2019-04-27|website=EMPR: Russia - Ukraine war news, latest Ukraine updates|language=en-US|archive-date=28 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628122640/https://empr.media/news/ukraine/ukraine-parliament-has-passed-the-law-on-the-ukrainian-language/|url-status=dead}} On the same day pro-Russian members of the Ukrainian Parliament blocked the chairman, Andriy Parubiy, from signing it by introducing two draft resolutions to repeal the law. "If parliament d[id] not support these resolutions, [Parliament chairman] Andriy Parubiy ha[d] the right to sign the law and forward it to the President of Ukraine to get his signature on it."{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10531104-pro-russian-faction-s-deputies-block-signing-of-language-law-in-ukraine.html|title=Pro-Russian faction's deputies block signing of language law in Ukraine|date=25 April 2019|website=www.unian.info|language=en|access-date=2019-04-25}} In total, four appeals to cancel the law were submitted, and it was planned that the parliament would vote on those on 14 May 2019. Parubiy declared that after the parliament will have rejected those appeals, he will sign the law and that the Ukrainian President will sign it "without delay."{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10532091-rada-speaker-sets-date-for-final-battle-for-blocked-language-law.html|title=Rada Speaker sets date for final battle for blocked language law|date=26 April 2019|website=www.unian.info|language=en|access-date=2019-04-26}}

Then President Petro Poroshenko called the adoption of the law by the Ukrainian parliament "a historic decision"{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10530558-poroshenko-calls-adopted-draft-law-on-ukrainian-language-historic-decision.html|title=Poroshenko calls adopted draft law on Ukrainian language historic decision|date=25 April 2019|website=www.unian.info|language=en|access-date=2019-04-25}} and said he would sign the law as soon as he received it from parliament.{{Cite web|title=President will sign the Law on language as soon as he receives it from the Verkhovna Rada|url=https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/prezident-pidpishe-zakon-pro-movu-shojno-vin-nadijde-z-verho-55042|date=25 April 2019|website=Official website of the President of Ukraine|language=en|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427020913/https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/prezident-pidpishe-zakon-pro-movu-shojno-vin-nadijde-z-verho-55042|archive-date=27 April 2019|access-date=2019-04-27}} Poroshenko also said that the law "would not have been approved without Andriy Parubiy".{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10534284-poroshenko-says-to-sign-law-on-ukrainian-language.html|title=Poroshenko says to sign law on Ukrainian language|date=29 April 2019|website=www.unian.info|language=en|access-date=2019-04-30}}File:Президент підписав закон про державну мову; Мова – це платформа, на якій будується нація і держава 2.jpg

Parliament chairman Parubiy signed the law on 14 May 2019, after the four draft bills to cancel the bill n. 5670-d were rejected by parliament.{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10548408-parliament-speaker-parubiy-signs-ukraine-s-language-bill.html|title=Parliament Speaker Parubiy signs Ukraine's language bill|date=14 May 2019|website=www.unian.info|language=en|access-date=2019-05-14}}{{Cite web|url=https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/587136.html|title=Parliament Speaker Parubiy signs draft law on Ukrainian language|date=14 May 2019|website=Interfax-Ukraine|access-date=2019-05-14}} Parubiy said that the law "will be signed by the president of Ukraine in the coming hours or days." On 15 May 2019, President Poroshenko, in his last week in office, signed the law.{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10550289-poroshenko-enacts-ukraine-s-language-law.html|title=Poroshenko enacts Ukraine's language law|date=15 May 2019|website=www.unian.info|language=en|access-date=2019-05-15}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/prezident-pidpisav-zakon-pro-derzhavnu-movu-mova-ce-platform-55319|title=President signed the law on the official language: Language is a platform on which the nation and state are built|date=15 May 2019|website=Official website of the President of Ukraine|language=en|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516190140/https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/prezident-pidpisav-zakon-pro-derzhavnu-movu-mova-ce-platform-55319|archive-date=16 May 2019|access-date=2019-05-20}}

On 21 June 2019, the Constitutional Court received a petition from 51 members of the Ukrainian Parliament demanding that the law be checked for constitutionality. On 14 July 2021, the Constitutional Court ruled the law as constitutional.{{Cite web|title=КС: Закон про функціонування української мови як державної конституційний|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2021/07/14/7300512/|access-date=2021-07-14|website=Українська правда|language=uk}}

The law regulates the Ukrainian language in the media, education, and business aiming to strengthen its role in a country where much of the public still speaks Russian.{{Cite web |last=Sukhov |first=Oleg |date=2019-04-25 |title=Parliament passes Ukrainian language bill |url=https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/parliament-passes-ukrainian-language-bill.html |access-date=2019-05-18 |website=KyivPost}} The Law does not apply to the sphere of private communication and the conduct of religious rites.

The law requires every citizen to be proficient in Ukrainian and prevents access to "state positions" (members of parliament, civil servants, etc.) if their knowledge of Ukrainian is insufficient. Ukrainian is the working language of both central and local authorities. In principle, all public authorities only accept to examine documents and applications written in Ukrainian, and their regulations and individual implementing acts are written in Ukrainian.

The law requires elections and referendums to be conducted in Ukrainian and stipulates that all campaign material "broadcast on television, radio, placed on outdoor advertising media, distributed in the form of leaflets and newspapers, or posted on the Internet" be in Ukrainian. Political parties and non-governmental organizations registered in Ukraine are required to adopt their "constituent documents and decisions" in Ukrainian and use Ukrainian in their dealings with the public authorities.

Members of national minorities have the right to receive only preschool and primary education in their own language. As for secondary education, they have the right to study their own language as a subject, while one or more other subjects may be taught in English or one of the official languages of the European Union. Members of national minorities who do not speak an official EU language (Belarusians, Gagauzes, Jews, and Russians) may study at the secondary school level their language only as a subject.

Scientific publications and public scientific events can only be in Ukrainian, English or other official EU language, as well as all cultural, artistic, recreational and entertainment events, unless the use of other languages is justified for artistic reasons or for the purpose of protecting ethnic minority languages. Publishing houses are required to print, and bookstores are required to sell, at least 50% of their books in Ukrainian.{{Cite web |date=2019-04-25 |title=Parliament passes Ukrainian language bill - KyivPost - Ukraine's Global Voice |url=https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/parliament-passes-ukrainian-language-bill.html |access-date=2022-03-19 |website=KyivPost}}{{Cite news |date=2019-04-25 |title=Ukraine passes language law, irritating president-elect and Russia |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-parliament-language-idUSKCN1S111N |access-date=2022-03-19}} TV and film distribution firms must ensure 90% of their content is in Ukrainian. The publication of print media in languages other than Ukrainian is permitted only on condition that they are accompanied by a Ukrainian translation, which must be identical in size, format, and substance. Exceptions are media published in Crimean Tatar or other indigenous languages (minorities which do not have a kin-State, such as Karaite and Krimchak minorities) and those published in English or other official EU languages. Films produced in Ukraine must be in Ukrainian, and foreign films must be dubbed into Ukrainian unless they meet certain standards set out by the Ukrainian authorities.

All publicly available information, such as advertisements, directional signs, pointers, signboards, messages, captions, must be in Ukrainian. Ukrainian is the language of "public events" in the broad sense that are organized or financed, in whole or in part, by any public governmental authority. Another language may be used, but the organizer must provide simultaneous or consecutive translation into Ukrainian "if requested by at least one participant in such public event".

The use of Ukrainian is also mandatory in the field of health care, medical care and medical services, but at the request of the service user, the service can be provided in another language acceptable to the parties.

Administrative pecuniary sanctions are applied as a consequence of violations of the law.

Contrary to the minority languages which are EU official languages, Russian, Belarusian and Yiddish are granted no exemption for the purposes of the law.

On 26 April 2019, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said the law was "unacceptable" and "part of Poroshenko's anti-Hungarian policy".{{Cite web|date=2019-04-26|title=Hungarian foreign minister: Ukraine's language law 'unacceptable'|url=https://dailynewshungary.com/hungarian-foreign-minister-ukraines-language-law-unacceptable/|access-date=2021-01-26|website=Daily News Hungary|language=en-US}}

On 30 April 2019, the European Commission said it would study and give its assessment to the law.{{Cite web|url=https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/584858.html|title=Brussels intends to study content of Ukrainian language law|date=30 April 2019|website=Interfax-Ukraine|access-date=2019-04-30}} On 22 May 2019, the Chair of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe asked the Venice Commission to analyze the law.{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/society/10560810-venice-commission-to-analyze-ukraine-s-language-law.html|title=Venice Commission to analyze Ukraine's language law|date=23 May 2019|website=www.unian.info|language=en|access-date=2019-05-23}} On 1 June 2019, OHCHR expressed concern about the absence of special legislation regulating the use of minority languages in Ukraine and criticised the distinction between minorities speaking an official EU language and other national minorities.{{cite report |url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/report-human-rights-situation-ukraine-16-february-15-may-2019 |title=Report on the human rights situation in Ukraine 16 February to 15 May 2019 |date=1 June 2019 |publisher=OHCHR |at=para. 81}}

In December 2019, the Venice Commission said that several provisions of the law failed to strike a fair balance between promoting the Ukrainian language and safeguarding minorities' linguistic rights.{{cite report |url=https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL-AD(2019)032-e |title=Opinion on the Law on Supporting the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as State Language |date=9 December 2019 |publisher=European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) |id=CDL-AD(2019)032 |access-date=29 March 2022 |format=PDF}}

In May 2019, the Kyiv District Administrative Court dismissed an NGO's application to prohibit Verkhovna Rada President Andriy Parubiy from signing and publishing the law.{{Cite web|url=https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/586684.html|title=Kyiv court turns down claim against language law bill – it will be signed into law and published|date=11 May 2019|website=Interfax-Ukraine|access-date=2019-05-12}}

Russia asked the President of the UN Security Council to convene a meeting over the adoption by Ukraine's parliament of the law.{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10553787-another-act-of-absurdity-russia-wants-un-security-council-meeting-over-ukrainian-language-law.html|title="Another act of absurdity": Russia wants UN Security Council meeting over Ukrainian language law|date=18 May 2019|website=www.unian.info|language=en|access-date=2019-05-18}}

In January 2022, Human Rights Watch expressed concerns about protection for minority languages.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-19 |title=New Language Requirement Raises Concerns in Ukraine |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/01/19/new-language-requirement-raises-concerns-ukraine |access-date=2022-03-29 |website=Human Rights Watch |language=en}}

On 19 June 2022, the Ukrainian parliament passed two laws which place severe restrictions on Russian books and music.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-20 |title=Ukraine to restrict Russian books, music in latest cultural break from Moscow |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/ukraine-to-restrict-russian-books-music-in-latest-cultural-break-from-moscow/ |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=www.euractiv.com |language=en-GB}} One law prohibits Russian citizens from printing books unless they renounce their Russian passport and take Ukrainian citizenship. The law also prohibits the import of books printed in Russia, Belarus, and the occupied Ukrainian territories, and requires a special authorisation for the import of Russian books from other countries. The other law bans the playing of music by post-Soviet era artists in the media and public transport and increases the quotas of Ukrainian speech and music contents in television and radio broadcasts.

On 7 July, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the law restricting the public performance of Russian music on television and radio, and on 7 October, the law entered into force.{{Cite web |last=БУРЧЕНЮК |first=Ірина |date=31 October 2022 |title=Щодо обмеження публічного використання музичного продукту держави-агресора |trans-title=Regarding the restriction of public use of the music product of the aggressor state |url=https://legalaid.gov.ua/publikatsiyi/shhodo-obmezhennya-publichnogo-vykorystannya-muzychnogo-produktu-derzhavy-agresora/ |website=legalaid.gov.ua}} The law allows the playing of post-Soviet Russian music if the musician is included in a "white list" of artists who have publicly condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{Cite web |last=Антоненко |first=Єва |date=July 7, 2022 |title=В Україні назавжди заборонили російську музику: Зеленський підписав закон |trans-title=Russian music is banned in Ukraine forever: Zelensky signs law |url=https://klymenko-time.com/uk/novosti/v-ukraine-navsegda-zapretili-rossijskuyu-muzyku-zelenskij-podpisal-zakon/ |website=Klymenko Time |access-date=18 November 2022 |archive-date=10 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310095152/https://klymenko-time.com/uk/novosti/v-ukraine-navsegda-zapretili-rossijskuyu-muzyku-zelenskij-podpisal-zakon/ |url-status=dead }} The Security Service of Ukraine decides on inclusion and exclusion from the list.

On 13 July 2023, the Kyiv City Council prohibited the usage of "Russian language cultural product" in the city of Kyiv. This includes performance of all Russian language product including books, music, and films, in public.{{cite news |title=Київрада наклала мораторій на публічне використання російськомовного культурного продукту на території столиці |url=https://kyivcity.gov.ua/news/kivrada_naklala_moratoriy_na_publichne_vikoristannya_rosiyskomovnogo_kulturnogo_produktu_na_teritori_stolitsi/ |work=Kyiv City portal |date=13 July 2023}}

On 8 December 2022, the Ukrainian parliament passed a bill that amend some laws on the rights of national minorities in light of the Council of Europe’s expert assessment and in order to meet one of the European Commission’s criteria for the opening of Ukrainian European Union membership negotiations.{{Cite web| url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/12/8/7432248/| title=Ukraine's Parliament approves changes to national minorities' rights required for EU membership talks| website=Ukrainska Pravda| date=December 2023| access-date=10 December 2023}} These changes gave the right to privately-owned institutions of higher education to have the right to freely choose the language of study if it is an official language of the European Union, while ensuring that persons studying at such institutions study the state language Ukrainian as a separate academic discipline; it guaranteed that national minorities whose language is an official languages of the European Union the right to use the language of the corresponding national minority in the educational process along with the state language and it ensured that pupils who had begun their general secondary education before 1 September 2018 in the language of the corresponding national minority, will have the right to continue to receive such education until the completion of their full secondary education in accordance with the rules that applied before the Law of Ukraine "On protecting the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the state language" came into force on 16 July 2019.{{Cite web | url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10618737-language-law-comes-to-force-in-ukraine.html | title=Language law comes to force in Ukraine}}

• History of the Russian language in Ukraine
• Chronology of Ukrainian language suppression

{{reflist|2}}

• {{cite journal |last=Azhniuk |first=Bohdan |title=Ukrainian Language Legislation and the National Crisis |journal=Harvard Ukrainian Studies |publisher=Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute |volume=35 |issue=1/4 |year=2017 |issn=03635570 |jstor=44983546 |pages=311–329 |url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/44983546 |access-date=28 July 2024}}
• {{Cite web|url=http://euromaidanpress.com/2019/04/25/ukraine-adopts-law-expanding-scope-of-ukrainian-language/|title=Ukraine adopts law expanding scope of Ukrainian language ·|last=Shandra|first=Alya|date=25 April 2019|website=Euromaidan Press|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-26}}
• {{cite book |last=Maksimovtsova |first=Ksenia |title=Language Conflicts in Contemporary Estonia, Latvia and Ukraine |series=Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics and Society |volume=205 |location=Stuttgart |publisher=ibidem |date=2019 |pages=119–158 |chapter=Chapter 3.1: The Characteristics of Language Policy in Ukraine after the USSR Disintegration |isbn=978-3-8382-1282-1}}
• {{Cite book |last=Reznik |first=Vladislava |title=Language Planning in the Post-Communist Era: The Struggles for Language Control in the New Order in Eastern Europe, Eurasia and China |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2018 |isbn=978-3-319-70925-3 |editor-last=Andrews |editor-first=Ernest |pages=169–192 |chapter=Language Policy in Independent Ukraine: A Battle for National and Linguistic Empowerment}}
• {{cite book |title=The battle for Ukrainian: a comparative perspective |publisher=Harvard University Press |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-932650-17-4 |editor-last=Flier |editor-first=Michael |publication-place=Cambridge, Massachusetts |oclc=992563580 |editor-last2=Graziosi |editor-first2=Andrea}}

• [http://www.kyivpost.com/hot/language-bill/ Further information and news] by Kyiv Post on various actions in Ukraine taken on the regional level in response to the law
• {{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon2.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/5029-17/print1331482006276224 The text of the 2012 law]
• {{in lang|uk}} [http://portal.rada.gov.ua/rada/control/uk/publish/article/news_left?art_id=309521&cat_id=33449 Plenary sessions on May 24, 2012]
• {{in lang|uk}} [http://politiko.ua/blogpost69179 Citizen's reviews on legislation]
• {{in lang|uk}} [http://blogs.pravda.com.ua/authors/tarasyuk/4fbc98010cfe4/ Review of the bill "On the principles of the state language policy" by another parliamentary]
• {{in lang|uk}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20120530031452/http://www.partyofregions.org.ua/ru/news/politinform/show/10829 Parliamentary speech of Kolesnichenko on May 24]
• {{in lang|uk|ru}} {{YouTube|J2kyEc7nGSM|Project "Hunt on Truth"}}
• {{in lang|uk}} [https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2704-19 The text of the 2019 law]

{{Commons category|Law "On provision of the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the State language"|position=left}}

Important documents

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120902022121/http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb_n/webproc4_1?id=&pf3511=41018 Bill "On the principles of the state language policy" (#9073)] (26 August 2011)
• Bill "On languages in Ukraine" (#1015-3)
• Bill "On prohibition of narrowing the spheres of use of regional languages and languages of national minorities of Ukraine" (26 August 2011)
• European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
• Constitution of Ukraine

{{Languages of Ukraine}}

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