Verkhovna Rada postpones bill to strip Russian language of protection
Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine withdrew the government's draft law No. 14120 from consideration, which provided for the exclusion of Russian from the list of languages protected by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
According to the parliament, the decision is explained by «pressure from unnamed Russian lobbyists in the Council of Europe», who allegedly opposed the cancellation of the status.
In parallel, the «language» clause in the EU peace plan
On the same day Radio Liberty published information on the draft joint plan Ukraine and the European Union on the ceasefire, which includes a clause on «strengthening mutual understanding and respect for the diversity of languages, cultures and religions».
According to journalists, this paragraph may actually mean returning the Russian language and the Russian Orthodox Church to their pre-war positions in public space.
Expert opinion: «slow non-military annexation»
Analysts see these two events as signs of a possible reversal of state policy, This could be part of a diplomatic compromise between Kyiv, Moscow and European mediators.
«If such a scenario is implemented, it will mean the Kremlin's return to the tactics of non-military but systematic cultural annexation of Ukraine - through language, church, cinema, music and publishing,» the observer notes.
Context.
Draft Law No. 14120 was registered in 2024. It provided that the Russian language cannot enjoy special protection within the framework of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, as it is used by the aggressor state as an instrument of influence.
Currently, the document has been returned to the government for revision, and parliamentary circles are discussing the possibility of revising the language policy as part of future agreements with the EU.
Ukrainian
English