Language clashes in Ukraine

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Kyiv last week to protest a controversial language law that would raise the status of Russian to that of being almost equal to Ukrainian language.

listen to Bogdan Voron's report...

In Ukraine language has always been a political issue. For more than 300 years Ukrainian was banned by the Russian Empire and than suppressed by the Soviets. Today nearly half the population speaks Russian, while Ukrainian is constitutionally enshrined as the country’s only official language.

Last week the Ukrainian Parliament attempted to push through a bill that, if passed, would recognize Russian as a regional language in mostly Russian-speaking areas of the country, and allow it to be used in the public service sphere.

Opposition parties claim the bill is a potential threat to Ukrainian sovereighty and was approved violating the rules. They accuse the government of using the language issue as a political ploy ahead of October’s parliamentary election.

Technically the bill is now in limbo, awaiting the signature of the parliamentary speaker who has threatened to resign. Meanwhile, more protests are being planned across the country and nine people, including some opposition deputies are currently on hunger strike. There were a few clashes with Police and tear gas was used against both sides.