In Ukraine, everyone will be forced to speak in Ukrainian: a resonant law has been passed

People's deputies adopted the law “On ensuring the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the state language,” which began to be considered in the second reading on February 28.

Фото: Depositphotos

278 parliamentarians voted for this decision, writes “Ukrainian Truth«.

Photo: video frame from the Rada TV channel

Before the vote, the people's deputies were shown a film in which writers, poets, community activists, scientists, actors, church leaders turned to them, who spoke about the importance of adopting a law on the functioning of the Ukrainian language.

To whom does the language law apply

The law defines persons who are required to speak the state language and use it during the performance of official duties, writes “UNIAN«.

Among them, in particular:

• state leadership, deputies;
• judges, prosecutors;
• employees of the National Bank of Ukraine;
• officers who are in military service under the contract;
• teachers, doctors of state and municipal health care institutions.

This law does not apply to the sphere of private communication and the performance of religious ceremonies.

As the law on language will apply to ordinary citizens

The law provides that every citizen of Ukraine is obliged to speak the state language as the language of his citizenship. It is noted that the state organizes Ukrainian language courses for adults and provides an opportunity to freely learn the state language to citizens of Ukraine who did not have this opportunity.

This law comes into force one month from the date of its publication, except for a number of positions whose entry is delayed for several years.

According to the law, a person who has the intention to acquire the citizenship of Ukraine is obliged to attest to the appropriate level of knowledge of the state language. At the same time, in particular, persons who perform military service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and are awarded a state award, and persons whose acceptance of citizenship of Ukraine is of state interest for the country have the right to acquire Ukrainian citizenship without attesting to the state language proficiency, but are obliged master it within one year from the date of acquisition of citizenship.

The law comes into force in 2 months from the date of its publication with the exception of a number of articles.

As a Ukrayinska Pravda correspondent reports, people on the square near the Verkhovna Rada greeted the adopted law on the state language with applause and chants of “Glory to Ukraine - Glory to the Heroes.” The nationalists lit fires. The action ended with the performance of the song “Smereka”.

Subsequently, Speaker Paruby, Filaret and the authors of the law came out to the people on the square.

President Petro Poroshenko commented on the parliament’s decision on Facebook, where he noted that the adoption of the language law is truly a historic decision, which stands next to the restoration of the Ukrainian army and the acquisition of autocephaly by the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

“The Ukrainian language is a symbol of our people, our state and our nation. And I am grateful to everyone who took part in the development, preparation and implementation of the language law, to the people’s deputies for their “yes” votes, and to all Ukrainians for their support. This is another important step towards our mental independence,” he wrote.

Photo: Facebook screenshot

The law establishes that the only state (official) language in Ukraine is Ukrainian - and it is obligatory for state authorities and public spheres throughout the state.

Public disregard for the Ukrainian language will be the basis for bringing to legal responsibility.

For the intentional distortion of the Ukrainian language in official documents and texts or the creation of obstacles and restrictions in the application of the Ukrainian language will also be punished.

“This law does not apply to the sphere of private communication and religious rites,” the document notes.

In addition, the law requires officials to speak the state language and apply it in the performance of official duties.

Also, the state language should be used in the educational sphere and labor relations, in the medical sphere, customer service, in public events, advertising and other fields.

Read also on ForumDaily:

20 free sites for learning English

Personal experience: who and why you should not move to the USA

'House of Cards' and 'Game of Thrones': as a young man from the USSR who did not know English became one of the most sought after directors in the USA

How to get rid of accent in English

Gmail's 7 features that you might not have known

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.