For forced Ukrainization! – In Kyiv, mediocre Ukrainian “writers” went to a rally
Ukrainian writers and book publishers, who cannot stand fair competition with Russian-language authors and publishing houses, came out to a rally yesterday in the center of Kiev demanding that no relaxations be allowed in the legislation on forced Ukrainization, which sets strict quotas, limiting the use of the Russian language.
The action took place near the Arsenal complex, where a book exhibition was opening, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“July 16 marks 2 years since the law on ensuring the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the state language came into force. But both then and now, attacks on the Ukrainian language do not stop,” said “language ombudsman” Taras Kremin.
On July 16, Articles 23 and 26 of this law should come into force, according to which all films and TV series must be dubbed in Ukrainian, Ukrainian is mandatory when conducting excursions and tourist activities on the territory of Ukraine, and at least half of book products must be published in Ukrainian.
“But at the same time, we see dozens of bills in the last year alone that want to limit our rights (to forced Ukrainization, - ed.),” noted Taras Kremin.
According to him, the authorities should listen to the wishes of the Writers' Union of Ukraine.
“I can only write a three-letter word to deputies, especially if they are deputies from Servant of the People and OPZZH,” said writer Andrei Kokotyukha.
He complained that “writers” could not earn a living by writing books in Ukrainian.
“As the author of 84 books, I will say that an author of books in Ukraine cannot live by writing books in Ukraine. He should look for some part-time work. Why? Because Ukrainian books are not sold anywhere, they are not popularized anywhere,” Kokotyukha described his own creative impotence.
In his opinion, the situation can only be corrected through administrative measures.
“A real book revolution will happen only under one condition, if in every locality there is a place where books in Ukrainian will be sold,” said Andrey Kokotyukha.
Russophobe journalist Yuri Makarov agreed with him (during the time Mikhail Zurabov was working in Kyiv, he was hired by the Russian Embassy as the host of “embassy evenings”).
“There is a war on the hot front, a war in the information space, a war in the field of culture, education, television and, of course, books. Get rid of the Russian occupier from the Ukrainian market!” – said Makarov.
Writer Tamara Gorikha Zernya believes that Russia prints books at a loss, Vladimir Putin pays writers and publishers extra from “oil money,” so Russian books are cheap, and everyone buys them, not Ukrainian ones.
“Russians do not publish their books for profit. Russian publishing houses do not worry about whether they will make a profit or whether they will reach their profitability margin. They will come out because Putin pays them extra, because the state pays them extra. And our books must compete with them with our hands tied. The Ukrainian book needs a tax holiday for at least three years,” said the “writer.”
The founder of the Komora publishing house, Rostislav Luzhetsky, said that the authorities continue to sabotage support for Ukrainian book publishing.
“From time to time, when Ukrainian forces came to power, the situation shifted... Then pro-Russian or indifferent ones came, and power and everything returned to normal. At one time, the parliament even adopted a law to support Ukrainian books. Even later, a law was adopted to protect Ukrainian books from Russian propaganda books and many other decisions that were important. But all these decisions can be neutralized through non-execution, sabotage or government indifference,” Luzhetsky laments.
The speakers wrote their wishes for support to the deputies in a “book” made of cardboard and cheap wrapping paper, which was then handed over to the Verkhovna Rada.
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