In Odessa, they boycott a store where salespeople were forced to speak English
Residents of Odessa began to boycott the Kopeyka store in the traditionally Russian-speaking Moldavanka area, where sellers have recently been forced to speak Ukrainian - apparently due to the tightening of legislation implemented by the ruling regime with the aim of de-Russifying the population.
Ex-candidate for mayor of Odessa Igor Azarov reported this on his blog.
According to him, sellers, after comments from surprised visitors, apologized, made one sentence in Russian, and then switched back to Ukrainian - apparently, so as not to fall under reprisals from the employer.
Azarov said that the story “received an unexpected continuation.”
“In one of the old shops nearby, a saleswoman said that when the supermarket opened, they were in despair, they were thinking of closing, fearing that all the customers would run there.
But many in the originally Russian-speaking area were outraged by such Ukrainization, and they now bypass Kopeika and continue to shop in old familiar shops. In general, in some places advertising is the engine of trade, but in our country it is culture,” said the politician.
“Specificity of the area. On Moldavanka, even 100 years ago, the Haidamaks were uncomfortable, and now,” Azarov clarified.
“The question here is not even about the client’s wishes, but about the equality of citizens. If a Ukrainian-speaking citizen can demand service in his native language, then speakers of other languages should receive the same,” the author also emphasized.
Thank you!
Now the editors are aware.