Ukrainian President Signs Law Removing Russian from European Charter Protections.

Legislative Changes in Ukraine

According to Novyny.live: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed into law Bill No. 4699-IX, which removes the Russian language from the list of languages covered by Ukraine's application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. This decision marks a significant step in safeguarding the languages of indigenous peoples and national communities.

Ruslan Stefanchuk, the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, announced the move on June 12. He emphasized that

“the language of the aggressor state cannot use protection tools designed to support the languages of indigenous peoples and national communities”

Restrictions on Russian Language Usage

In addition, the city of Poltava has introduced restrictions on the public use of Russian-language cultural products. These actions underscore Ukraine's commitment to preserving and promoting the Ukrainian language and culture, as well as its intent to reduce the influence of Russian in society. The legislative changes are thus part of a broader national policy focused on linguistic and cultural identity.

This law could significantly shape language policy in Ukraine by reinforcing the state's focus on Ukrainian as the primary language. In the context of continued Russian aggression, such measures highlight Ukraine's efforts to protect its cultural identity. Moreover, they may affect cultural relations between Ukraine and Russia, as well as interactions with other countries where Russian holds a certain status.