Ukrainian language ombudsman: move out of Ukraine if you don't like the language law

Those who do not agree with Ukraine or the Ukrainian language law should move to another country, advised Tarasz Kreminy, the commissioner responsible for the protection of the state language, on a Ukrainian television program on Friday.

The ombudsman emphasized that Ukrainian citizens must respect the constitution, laws and the Ukrainian people. Therefore, as he put it , those who are dissatisfied with the language law and the Ukrainian state should go to another country , where "they think they will feel more comfortable". (As if echoing Gyurcsány: "If you don't like it, you can leave here" - ed.)

In connection with the news, the UNIAN news agency reminded that Ukraine has one state language: Ukrainian. The state leadership began to protect the Ukrainian language more actively after Russia arbitrarily annexed the Crimean peninsula in 2014 under the pretext of "protecting" the Russian-speaking population living in Ukraine and incited an armed conflict in the Donetsk basin.

In 2019, the parliament adopted the legislation on the functioning of Ukrainian as a state language - better known as the language law - against which the Transcarpathian Hungarian organizations, among others, vehemently protested, because, in their opinion, it eliminated all previously acquired language rights of minorities. The law makes the use of the Ukrainian language mandatory practically everywhere except for private conversations and religious ceremonies. Some provisions of the law entered into force immediately, others were postponed until later.

For example, the provision concerning the service sector entered into force on January 16. This stipulates that employees must address visitors in the national language, but must switch to another language if requested by the customer. On July 16, the norms for the cultural sphere entered into force. According to them, apart from a few exceptions, all cultural events must be conducted in Ukrainian.

Among other things, theater performances in foreign languages ​​must be translated into Ukrainian with subtitles or interpretation, and at least half of the books published in the country must be in Ukrainian. Starting from the same day, state officials and applicants for Ukrainian citizenship must take an exam in the Ukrainian language.

At a foreign minister's conference in April of this year, Péter Szijjártó stated: In Ukraine, the rights of the Hungarian community have been continuously violated in recent years, including language use in the fields of culture, media, public administration and education. Hungary "acknowledged with shock" the intimidating procedures against the leaders of the Transcarpathian Hungarian community, just as it does not help the relationship based on mutual trust that actions were launched to detect those with dual citizenship" He stated: the Transcarpathian Hungarians can always count on the support of the motherland, the Hungarian government . "We will always, at every international forum, stand up for Transcarpathian Hungarians and legal people," said the minister.

Source: Hungarian Nation

Cover image: MTI.