The Committee on Judicial Policy recognized the draft law on the national language of Ukraine as non-contradicting to provisions of the Constitution of Ukraine

Information Department of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Secretariat
24 December 2013, 12:25

The bill (reg. No. 1144) was elaborated in order to regulate social relations connected with the status of the Ukrainian language as the national language of Ukraine and its official use.

Particularly, it is suggested to determine obligations of the state authorities and officials on the territory of Ukraine in relation to the Ukrainian language as the national language, as well as respective rights of the citizens. The bill stipulates obligation of any official to use the Ukrainian language as the national language, establishes state assistance and protection of the national language guarantees, herewith, compulsory use of the national language of Ukraine should not be treated as a contradiction or denial of right to use other languages on the territory of Ukraine. Moreover, it is suggested to recognize the Law “On the Principles of State Language Policy” as void.       

It was also mentioned that the Ministry of Justice submitted several remarks, particularly about contradiction of the bill to chapter one of article 10 of the Constitution of Ukraine. Although, the Committee members think that the bill’s norms comply with the norm of the Basic Law of Ukraine re guarantee of free development, use and protection of the Russian language, other languages of national minorities of Ukraine, and does not violate the order of chapter one of article 10 of the Constitution of Ukraine.