In Europe, the law on total Ukrainization was criticized and suggested how to correct it
To prevent the language problem in Ukraine from becoming a source of interethnic tension, it is extremely important to achieve an appropriate balance in language policy. The Ukrainian authorities have not yet done this, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
This is stated in the conclusion presented today by the Council of Experts on Constitutional Law of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe.
“Given the special place of the Russian language in Ukraine, as well as the oppression of the Ukrainian language in the past, the Venice Commission is fully aware of the need to promote the use of Ukrainian as the state language. Therefore, it is commendable that the Law on the State Language provides for positive measures in this direction, obliging the state to provide every citizen of Ukraine with the opportunity to master the language through the education system, organize free language courses and promote access to films and other cultural products in the Ukrainian language,” it says in conclusion.
The Venice Commission also welcomed the fact that in a number of cases the law provides for the use of minority languages in parallel with the state language, referring to the proposed Minorities Law.
“However, the Minorities Law has not yet been prepared, although it should have been developed simultaneously with the State Language Law to ensure the necessary balance from the very beginning. Experts of the Council of Europe call on Ukraine to prepare the Law on Minorities without unnecessary delays and to consider postponing until the adoption of this Law the implementation of the provisions of the Law on the State Language that have already entered into force,” the European experts said.
In addition, the Venice Commission proposed that the Ukrainian authorities revise the Law on the State Language and prepare a Law on Minorities in consultation with all interested parties, especially representatives of national minorities and indigenous peoples, and also delete the article establishing liability for deliberate distortion of the Ukrainian language in official documents and texts. The Venice Commission proposes to revise the quotas for the content of materials in the Ukrainian language established by the Law on the State Language for television and radio broadcasting companies.
The Commission also recommends extending the transition period for the implementation of the provisions of the Education Act for all national minorities and indigenous peoples, and not just for students whose mother tongue is an EU language. Thus, European experts propose to resolve, in particular, the problem of using the Russian language.
Ukrainian lawyer Andrei Portnov called the findings of the Venice Commission a signal for the Verkhovna Rada to repeal the scandalous law.
“Given that the Venice Commission, which has priority after Ukraine signed an association agreement with the EU, harshly criticized the Ukrainian law on languages, I think the ruling political team needs to initiate its abolition in parliament. It is necessary to act in full compliance with European standards and our own election obligations. If you feel uncomfortable in front of nationalists, refer directly to the Venice Commission and register a project to abolish the language law,” Portnov wrote in his Telegram channel.
On May 23, the Venice Commission received a request to analyze the compliance of the law on the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the state language with European standards. The commission's conclusions are advisory in nature.
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