View source for Language policy in Ukraine

{{Short description|Laws of Ukraine regarding language}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}

'''Language policy in Ukraine''' is based on its [[Constitution of Ukraine|Constitution]], international treaties and on domestic legislation. According to article 10 of the Constitution, [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]] is the official language of [[Ukraine]], and the state shall ensure the comprehensive development and functioning of the Ukrainian language in all spheres of social life throughout the entire territory of the country. Some minority languages (such as Russian and Belarusian) have significantly less protection, and have restrictions on their public usage.

The 2012 law {{Interlanguage link|On the principles of the State language policy|lt=On the principles of the State language policy|uk|Закон України «Про засади державної мовної політики»|WD=}} granted [[regional language]] status to Russian and other minority languages. It allowed the use of minority languages in courts, schools and other government institutions in areas of Ukraine where the national minorities exceed 10% of the population.<ref name="Lsaid24812">{{Cite news |url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/politics/lytvyn-program-for-development-of-ukrainian-language-should-be-adopted-before-elections-312012.html |title=Lytvyn: Program for development of Ukrainian language should be adopted before elections |date=2012-08-24 |work=[[KyivPost]] |agency=Interfax-Ukraine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Guardian4Jul2012">{{Cite news |last=Elder |first=Miriam |date=2012-07-04 |title=Ukrainians protest against Russian language law |language=en |work=theguardian.com |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jul/04/ukrainians-protest-russian-language-law}}</ref> The 2012 law was supported by the governing [[Party of Regions]] and opposed by the opposition parties, who argued that the law undermined the role of the Ukrainian language, violated Article 10 of the [[Constitution of Ukraine|Constitution]],<ref name="Guardian4Jul2012" /><ref name="Scientistssaid">{{Cite web|url=http://day.kyiv.ua/uk/article/podrobici/naukovci-ocinyuyut-zakon-pro-zasadi-movnoyi-politiki|title=Науковці оцінюють закон про засади мовної політики|date=13 June 2012|website=day.kyiv.ua}}</ref><ref name="Riabchuksaid">{{Cite web|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/odr/playing-with-ambiguities-ukraines-language-law/|title=Playing with ambiguities: Ukraine's language law|last=Riabchuk|first=Mykola|date=28 June 2012|website=openDemocracy|access-date=2019-05-06}}</ref> and was adopted with an irregular procedure.<ref name="Tsn13072012">{{Cite web|url=https://tsn.ua/politika/opoziciya-virishila-borotis-z-movnim-zakonom-goloduvannyam.html|script-title=uk:Опозиція вирішила боротись з "бандитським" законом про мови голодуванням|date=2012-07-03|website=ТСН.ua|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-08}}</ref><ref name="UkrPrStenograma">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2012/07/5/6968170/|script-title=uk:Мовний законопроект ухвалений із порушенням процедури - стенограма|website=Українська правда|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-08}}</ref> Immediately after the [[2014 Ukrainian revolution]], on 23 February 2014, the Ukrainian Parliament voted to repeal the law. This decision was vetoed by the acting President [[Oleksandr Turchynov|Turchynov]].<ref name="lenta223" /><ref name="itar301">{{cite web|url=http://en.itar-tass.com/world/721537|title=Ukraine's parliament-appointed acting president says language law to stay effective|date=2014-03-01|publisher=[[ITAR-TASS]]}}</ref> In October 2014, the [[Constitutional Court of Ukraine|Constitutional Court]] started reviewing the constitutionality of the 2012 law<ref name="KSU10117" /> and declared it unconstitutional on 28 February 2018.<ref name="KSU10ZZ117">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/2412584-constitutional-court-declares-unconstitutional-language-law-of-kivalovkolesnichenko.html|title=Constitutional Court declares unconstitutional language law of Kivalov-Kolesnichenko|date=28 February 2018|website=[[Ukrinform]]|language=en|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref>

In April 2019, the Ukrainian parliament voted a new law, the law [[Law of Ukraine "On protecting the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the state language"|"On supporting the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the State language"]]. The law made the use of Ukrainian compulsory (totally or within quotas) in more than 30 spheres of public life, including public administration, electoral process, education, science, culture, media, economic and social life, health and care institutions, and activities of political parties. The law did not regulate private communication. Some exemptions were provided for the [[Languages of the European Union|official languages of the European Union]] and for minority languages, with the exclusion of [[Russian language|Russian]], [[Belarusian language|Belarusian]] and [[Yiddish]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 May 2019 |title=Кому варто боятися закону про мову? |trans-title=Who should be afraid of the language law? |url=http://language-policy.info/2019/05/komu-varto-boyatysya-zakonu-pro-movu/ |website=language-policy.info}}</ref><ref name=":12">[[Venice Commission|European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission)]], [https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL-AD(2019)032-e Ukraine - Opinion on the Law on Supporting the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language], adopted by the Venice Commission at its 121st Plenary Session (Venice, 6–7 December 2019), CDL-AD(2019)032.</ref> The [[Venice Commission]] and [[Human Rights Watch]] expressed concern about the 2019 law's failure to protect the language rights of Ukrainian minorities.<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":11" /> On 8 December 2023, the Ukrainian parliament passed a bill that claimed to have fixed this issues and was adopted in order to meet one of the [[European Commission]]’s criteria for the opening of [[Accession of Ukraine to the European Union|Ukrainian European Union membership negotiations]].<ref name="7432248LPU"/>

Following the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], on 19 June the Ukrainian parliament passed two laws which placed restrictions on Russian books and music. The new laws ban Russian citizens from printing books unless they take Ukrainian citizenship, prohibit the import of books printed in Russia, Belarus and the occupied Ukrainian territories, and prohibit the reproduction in the media and public transport of music performed or created by post-1991 Russian citizens, unless the musicians are included in a "white list" of artists who have publicly condemned Russian aggression against Ukraine.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news |last=Hunder |first=Max |date=2022-06-19 |title=Ukraine to restrict Russian books, music in latest cultural break from Moscow |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-restrict-russian-books-music-latest-cultural-break-moscow-2022-06-19/ |access-date=2022-11-18}}</ref><ref name=":13" /><ref name=":14">{{Cite news |date=2022-06-19 |title=Ukraine to ban music by some Russians in media and public spaces |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61859593 |access-date=2022-11-18}}</ref>

In June 2023, a bill for a {{Interlanguage link|English language in Ukraine|lt=new law (No. 9432) on the use of English|ru|Английский язык на Украине|WD=}} as one of Ukraine's languages for international communication was introduced by president Zelenskyy.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2023-06-29|title=English to be Recognized as the Language of International Communication in Ukraine?|work=Kyiv Post|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/post/18854|access-date=2023-07-04}}</ref> Among other things, the bill encourages use of Ukrainian [[subtitles]] rather than [[dubbing]] for imported English-language movies.

==Overview==
{{see also|Russification of Ukraine}}
[[File:Ukraine census 2001 Russian.svg|thumb|Percentage of native speakers of Russian from the [[Ukrainian Census (2001)|2001 census]]. Russian was a regional language in 13 [[Administrative divisions of Ukraine|regions]] ''(shaded)'' with 10% or higher before the repeal of the 2012 languages law.<ref name="itar301" />]]
Since the [[Dissolution of the Soviet Union|fall of the Soviet Union]] and the independence of [[Ukraine]], the [[Russian language]] has dwindled. In 2001 it remained one of the two most used languages for business, legal proceedings, science, artistry, and many other spheres of everyday life. According to the 2001 census, 67.5% of the citizens of Ukraine regarded Ukrainian as their native language, with Russian being considered the native language for another 29.6%. Various other languages constituted the remaining 2.9%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://2001.ukrcensus.gov.ua/eng/results/general/language/|title=About number and composition population of UKRAINE by All-Ukrainian population census'2001 data|website=2001.ukrcensus.gov.ua|access-date=2019-05-06}}</ref>

== Soviet era ==
During the Soviet era, the status of Ukrainian was legally codified in 1922, when Ukrainian and Russian were declared to be of "national significance" and schools were allowed to use them both in teaching; they were never adopted as official languages of [[Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic|Soviet Ukraine]] but had formally equal status as "generally used languages".<ref name="oflangUSSR">{{cite book |last=Grenoble |first=Lenore A. |title=Language Policy in the Soviet Union |publisher=Kluwer Academic Publishers |year=2003 |volume=3 |isbn=0-306-48083-2 |publication-place=New York, Boston, Dordrecht, London, Moscow |doi=10.1007/0-306-48083-2|s2cid=127542313 }}</ref> In practice, however, Ukrainian was mainly a rural language and had lower prestige than Russian, which was the language of the educated urban society. After an initial phase of official commitment to Ukrainization in the 1920s and early 1930s, the Soviet era was marked by an increasing trend toward Russification.<ref name="oflangUSSR" /> In 1938 the study of Russian was made obligatory and in 1958 the study of the mother-tongue was made optional. From 1959 to 1989, on average 60-70% of the population spoke Ukrainian and 20% spoke Russian; [[Yiddish]] was also widely spoken by the decreasing [[History of the Jews in Ukraine|Jewish population]] (from 14% in 1959 to 3.9% in 1989).<ref name="oflangUSSR" />

== 1989 Law of the Languages ==
On 28 October 1989, the [[Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic|Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR]] adopted the "Law of Languages".{{sfn|Azhniuk|2017|p=311}} The Ukrainian language was declared the only [[official language]], while the other languages spoken in Ukraine were guaranteed constitutional protection. The government was obliged to create the conditions required for the development and use of Ukrainian language as well as languages of other ethnic groups, including [[Russian language|Russian]]. Usage of other languages, along with Ukrainian, was allowed in local institutions located in places of residence of the majority of citizens of the corresponding ethnicities.<sup>[''[[Wikipedia:Please clarify|clarification needed]]'']</sup> Citizens were guaranteed the right to use their native or any other languages and were entitled to address various institutions and organisations in Ukrainian, in Russian, or in another language of their work, or in a language acceptable to the parties.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MINELRES - Minority related national legislation - Ukraine - language |url=https://minelres.lv/NationalLegislation/Ukraine/Ukraine_Language_English.htm |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=minelres.lv}}</ref>

The adoption of the "Law on Languages" preceded the [[Declaration of Independence of Ukraine]] (24 August 1991) by almost two years.{{sfn|Azhniuk|2017|p=311}} The Ukrainian SSR was still part of the Soviet Union, and its parliament still dominated by the [[Communist Party of Ukraine (Soviet Union)|Communist Party of Ukraine]].{{sfn|Azhniuk|2017|p=311}} After the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]] in December 1991, the law, with some minor amendments, remained in force in the independent Ukrainian state.{{sfn|Azhniuk|2017|p=311}} Ever since, there have been discussions on the potential adoption as Russian as a co-official language alongside Ukrainian, particularly raising debates during presidential and parliamentary election campaigns.{{sfn|Azhniuk|2017|p=311}} [[Leonid Kuchma]] had made raising the status of Russian one of his 1994 electoral promises, but did not deliver it during his presidency.{{sfn|Azhniuk|2017|p=311}}

== Ukrainian Constitution ==
The [[Constitution of Ukraine]], adopted by the [[Verkhovna Rada]] on 28 June 1996, states at article 10: "The state language of Ukraine is the Ukrainian language. The State ensures the comprehensive development and functioning of the Ukrainian language in all spheres of social life throughout the entire territory of Ukraine. In Ukraine, the free development, use and protection of Russian, and other languages of national minorities of Ukraine, is guaranteed".<ref name="Constitution">{{Cite web|url=http://www.rada.gov.ua/const/conengl.htm|title=Constitution of Ukraine|date=28 June 1996|website=rada.gov.ua|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521190059/http://www.rada.gov.ua/const/conengl.htm|archive-date=2011-05-21|access-date=2019-05-23|quote=The state language of Ukraine is the Ukrainian language. The State ensures the comprehensive development and functioning of the Ukrainian language in all spheres of social life throughout the entire territory of Ukraine. In Ukraine, the free development, use and protection of Russian, and other languages of national minorities of Ukraine, is guaranteed.}}</ref>

== 2012 Law on the Principles of the State Language Policy ==

On 7 February 2012 members of the Verkhovna Rada [[Serhii Kivalov]] and Vadym Kolesnychenko (both from the [[Party of Regions]]) entered a bill (commonly called "Kolesnychenko-Kivalov language bill"), that would have given the status of [[regional language]] to Russian and other minority languages. It allowed the use of minority languages in courts, schools and other government institutions in areas of Ukraine where the national minorities exceed 10% of the population.<ref name="Lsaid24812" /><ref name="Guardian4Jul2012" />

Supporters of the 2012 bill argued it would have made life easier for [[Russian language in Ukraine|Russian-speaking Ukrainians]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/international/rushed-law-on-russian-provokes-ukraine-fury-1-2391004 |title=Rushed law on Russian provokes Ukraine fury |date=4 July 2012 |work=[[The Scotsman]] |language=en}}</ref> Opponents feared that the adoption of Russian as a minority language could have spread rapidly, challenging Ukrainian and causing splits between eastern and western Ukraine.<ref>[http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/98ab721e-c5eb-11e1-a3d5-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1zgBJy1GX Language law triggers violence in Ukraine], [[Financial Times]] (4 July 2012)</ref> In practice Russian at the time was already used widely{{specify|date=August 2012}} in official establishments in Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18702759|title=Ukraine clash over language law|date=2012-07-04|work=BBC|access-date=2019-05-06|language=en-GB}}</ref>

{{Infobox legislation
| short_title    = Kolesnychenko-Kivalov language law
| long_title     = On the principles of the state language policy
| 1st_reading    = 5 June 2012<ref name=arbitrationlaw>{{cite web|url=https://arbitrationlaw.com/library/law-ukraine-principles-state-language-policy-jel-2012-vol-5-no-1|title=Law of Ukraine "On Principles of the State Language Policy" - JEL 2012 Vol. 5, No. 1|website=Juris Arbitration Law|access-date=30 May 2019}}</ref>
| 2nd_reading    = 3 July 2012<ref name=arbitrationlaw/>
| introduced_by  = Kolesnychenko and [[Serhiy Kivalov|Kivalov]]
| date_enacted   = 
| repeals        = 28 February 2018
| status         = repealed
| date_signed    = 8 August 2012
| signed_by      = [[Viktor Yanukovych]]<ref name=arbitrationlaw/>
| date_effective = 10 August 2012
| legislature    = [[Verkhovna Rada]]
| image          = Lesser Coat of Arms of Ukraine.svg
| bill           = Bill n. 9073, "On the principles of the state language policy"<ref name="bill9073">{{Cite web|url=http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb_n/webproc4_1?id=&pf3511=41018|title=Проект Закону про засади державної мовної політики|website=rada.gov.ua|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902022121/http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb_n/webproc4_1?id=&pf3511=41018|archive-date=2 September 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=2019-05-30}}</ref>
}}

In May 2012 [[Vadym Kolesnychenko]], one of the authors of the 2012 language law, claimed that the law was supported by several higher education bodies, scientists and NGOs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.pravda.com.ua/authors/kolesnichenko/4fb618767dc8f/|title=В Київському Національному університеті ім. Тараса Шевченка підтримали необхідність прийняття законопроекту "Про засади державної мовної політики"|last=Kolesnichenko|first=Vadym|date=18 May 2012|website=blogs.pravda.com.ua|access-date=2019-05-07}}</ref> On 9 February 2013, [[Russian President]] [[Vladimir Putin]] awarded him and another author of the language law, [[Serhiy Kivalov]], with the [[Medal of Pushkin]] for their "great contribution to the preservation and promotion of the [[Russian language]] and [[Russian culture|culture]] abroad".<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2013-02-19 |script-title=uk:Путін нагородив авторів "мовного закону" Ківалова та Колесніченка |trans-title=Putin awarded the authors of the "language law" Kivalov and Kolesnichenko |url=https://tsn.ua/politika/putin-nagorodiv-avtoriv-movnogo-zakonu-kivalova-ta-kolesnichenka-282799.html |access-date=2019-05-06 |website=ТСН.ua |language=uk}}</ref>

Some say that the bill contradicts the [[Constitution of Ukraine]], violates the [[Budget Code of Ukraine|Budget Code]], and aims to annihilate the [[Ukrainian language]].{{cn|date=April 2024}} It suffered a criticism in the conclusions of state authorities and their departments: the Main Scientific-Expert Bureau of the Ukrainian Parliament (23 May 2012),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc4_1?pf3511=41018|title=Офіційний портал Верховної Ради України|website=w1.c1.rada.gov.ua}}</ref> the Parliamentary Committee on Culture and Spirituality (September 23, 2011), the Parliamentary Committee on Budget (3 November 2011), [[Ministry of Finance (Ukraine)|Ministry of Finance]] (9 September 2011), the [[Ministry of Justice (Ukraine)|Ministry of Justice]] (27 September 2011).<ref name="maidan">{{Cite web|url=https://maidan.org.ua/2012/07/67-instytutsij-hromadyanskoho-suspilstva-arhumentovano-zaklykaly-deputativ-ne-holosuvaty-za-pryjnyattya-zakonoproektu-pro-zasady-derzhavnoji-movnoji-polityky/|title=67 інституцій громадянського суспільства аргументовано закликали депутатів не голосувати за прийняття законопроекту "Про засади державної мовної політики"|date=2012-07-03|website=сайт Майдан|language=uk|trans-title=67 institutions of public society reasonably urged deputies not to vote for adoption of the Bill on the principles of the state language policy|access-date=2019-05-06}}</ref> The bill also failed to obtain the support of the specialized institutions of the [[National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine]]: the Linguistics Institute, the Institute of the Ukrainian Language, the Institute of political and ethno-national researches, the Shevchenko Institute of Literature, the Institute of State and Law, the Ukrainian linguistic-informational Fund, the Philology Institute of [[Kyiv University]], and the Academy of Sciences of the High School of Ukraine.<ref name="maidan" />

===Opinion adopted by the Venice Commission===
In December 2011, the [[Venice Commission]] of the Council of Europe issued an opinion on the draft law questioning whether the parallel use of Ukrainian and Russian was in compliance with article 10 of the Constitution:<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=19 December 2011 |title=Opinion on the Draft Law on Principles of the State Language Policy of Ukraine – Adopted by the Venice Commission at its 89th Plenary Session (Venice, 16-17 December 2011) On the basis of comments by Mr Sergio BARTOLE (Substitute Member, Italy) Mr Jan VELAERS (Member, Belgium) |url=https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDL-AD(2011)047-e |website=venice.coe.int}}</ref> "the question remains whether [...] there are sufficient guarantees, in the current Draft Law, for the consolidation of the Ukrainian language as the sole State language, and of the role it has to play in the Ukrainian multilinguistic society".<ref name=":2" />

''[[Ukrayinska Pravda]]'' reported that the [[Venice Commission]] did not find in the draft law enough guarantees for the protection of the [[Ukrainian language]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2011/12/17/6845714/|script-title=uk:Венеціанська комісія не побачила у мовному законопроекті гарантій захисту української|website=Українська правда|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-06}}</ref> and that the commission had come to the conclusion that the proposed law was just "another tool of the election campaign" for the [[Party of Regions]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2011/12/20/6851586/|script-title=uk:Венеціанська комісія звинуватила “регіоналів” у передвиборчих провокаціях|website=Українська правда|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-06}}</ref> Kolesnichenko, one of the authors of the law, claimed that the Opinion was "generally supportive",<ref>{{in lang|ru}} В. Колесниченко [http://www.r-u.org.ua/akt/6409-news.html «Венецианская комиссия» впервые одобрила проект закона Украины «Об основах государственной языковой политики» (текст выводов)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120703045852/http://www.r-u.org.ua/akt/6409-news.html |date=3 July 2012 }} [[Russian-speaking Ukraine]] 2011{{unreliable source?|date=January 2015}}</ref> but the opponents noted that it contained strong criticism about the failure to protect the role of Ukrainian as the State language.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.ua/politics/584073-u-zakoni-pro-movnu-politiku-ne-garantovaniy-zahist-ukrajinskoji-movi.html|script-title=uk:У законі про мовну політику не гарантований захист української мови|website=www.unian.ua|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://glavcom.ua/publications/116211-skandalnij-visnovok-venetsianskoji-komisiji-shchodo-movi.-dokument.html|script-title=uk:Скандальний висновок Венеціанської комісії щодо мови. Документ|website=glavcom.ua|date=20 December 2011 |language=uk|access-date=2019-05-06}}</ref>

===Fight in parliament===
Prior to 24 May 2012, there were rumors that a revision of the legislation on languages would take place in parliament (the [[Verkhovna Rada]]) and that the Secretary of National Security and Defense would attend the session.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2012/05/24/6965229/|script-title=uk:КЛЮЄВ ПРИЇХАВ ДО РАДИ ЛАМАТИ ДЕПУТАТІВ|website=Українська правда|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref> Some 1,000 protesters gathered just outside the [[Verkhovna Rada building]] setting up another tent city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2012/05/24/6965236/|script-title=uk:Під Радою ставитимуть намети|website=Українська правда|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-06}}</ref> State law enforcement warned the protesters not to establish a tent city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2012/05/24/6965250/|script-title=uk:Міліція попередила, що краще не ставити намети під Радою|website=Українська правда|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref>

At the evening session, the parliamentary opposition in the Verkhovna Rada ([[Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc]] and [[Our Ukraine–People's Self-Defense Bloc|Our Ukraine-People's Self-Defense Bloc]]) blocked the main tribune in parliament as some representatives from the [[Party of Regions]] surrounded the [[presidium]]. The speaker was forced to announce a break in the session. After the break, Member of Parliament [[Vyacheslav Kyrylenko]] read a statement of the united opposition not to conduct any hearings regarding language issues. After the law draft #10154 "On the state language of Ukraine" was not adopted onto the daily agenda, Kyrylenko withdrew his draft #9059 "Prohibition of narrowing the sphere of use of Ukrainian language" from a revision, while Kolesnichenko gave a presentation on his draft #9073. The head of the Committee On Issues of Culture and Spirituality [[Volodymyr Yavorivsky]] disclosed the decision of the committee to reject the bill #9073 as it was the decision of the committee's majority. He pointed to the fact that the law draft in fact will introduce a bilingual situation in number of regions. However, after a review, the bill was supported by the parliamentary majority which showed its support in adopting two state languages: Ukrainian and Russian. The parliamentary minority and the deputy group "Reforms for the Future" stayed in opposition to the bill. Parliament speaker [[Volodymyr Lytvyn]] was forced to hastily close<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2012/05/24/6965233/|script-title=uk:ЛИТВИН ЗАКРИВ ЗАСІДАННЯ РАДИ НА ПІВСЛОВІ|website=Українська правда|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref> the session as further discussion descended into another fight<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2012/05/24/6965251/|script-title=uk:Єфремов упевнений, що Колесніченко потрапив в історію|website=Українська правда|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref> leaving some members of parliament injured.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2012/05/24/6965235/|script-title=uk:БЮТІВЦЯ ПОБИЛИ ДО КРОВІ. Колесніченку порвали сорочку|website=Українська правда|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2012/05/24/6965245/|script-title=uk:Єфремов: БЮТівець сам розбив собі голову|website=Українська правда|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref>

The [[Party of Regions]] released a statement to the press where it accused the opposition of impeding the enactment of a bill that protects some constitutional rights of millions of citizens of Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2012/05/24/6965255/|script-title=uk:“Регіони” запевняють, що “шабаш” не завадить їм “захистити мову”|website=Українська правда|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref> PoR leader in parliament [[Oleksandr Yefremov|Yefremov]] promised to revisit the issue once everything is stable.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2012/05/24/6965246/|script-title=uk:Лідер “Регіоналів” обіцяє, що мовою ще займуться|website=Українська правда|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref>

===Implementation===
The bill was eventually adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on second reading on 3 July 2012; it was supported by the [[Party of Regions]], the [[Communist Party of Ukraine]] and the [[Lytvyn Bloc]], while it was strongly opposed by the [[Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc]] and the [[Our Ukraine–People's Self-Defense Bloc|Our Ukraine-People's Self-Defence Bloc]]. The bill was to come into force only after it was signed by [[President of Ukraine|Ukrainian President]] [[Viktor Yanukovych]] and the [[Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada|Chairman of Parliament]].<ref name="Guardian4Jul2012" /> But the Chairman of Parliament [[Volodymyr Lytvyn]] tendered his resignation on 4 July 2012.<ref name="Guardian4Jul2012" /> However, the [[Verkhovna Rada]] twice held votes of confidence in the speaker, and did not accept his resignation.<ref name="Lytsign" /> On 31 July, Lytvyn signed the law.<ref name="Lytsign">{{Cite web|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/article/content/language-bill/language-law-comes-into-force-in-ukraine-311340.html|title=Language law comes into force in Ukraine - Aug. 10, 2012|date=2012-08-10|website=KyivPost|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref> The bill was signed by President Yanukovych on 8 August 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.president.gov.ua/ru/news/24960.html|title=Президент подписал Закон и поручил Правительству создать рабочую группу|date=8 October 2012|website=president.gov.ua|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140127183410/http://www.president.gov.ua/ru/news/24960.html|archive-date=27 January 2014|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref> The law came into force on 10 August 2012.<ref name="Lsaid24812" />

Since then, various Ukrainian cities and regions have declared Russian a regional language in their jurisdictions, these being the municipalities of [[Odesa]], [[Kharkiv]], [[Kherson]], [[Mykolaiv]], [[Zaporizhia]], [[Sevastopol]], [[Dnipropetrovsk]], [[Luhansk]] and [[Krasnyi Luch|Krasny Luch]]; and the [[Oblasts of Ukraine|Oblasts]] of [[Odesa Oblast|Odesa]], [[Zaporizhia Oblast|Zaporizhia]], [[Donetsk Oblast|Donetsk]], [[Kherson Oblast|Kherson]], [[Mykolaiv Oblast|Mykolaiv]] and [[Dnipropetrovsk Oblast|Dnipropetrovsk]].<ref name="NewUklang2892012">{{Cite news |url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/romanian-becomes-regional-language-in-bila-tserkva-in-zakarpattia-region-313373.html |title=Romanian becomes regional language in Bila Tserkva in Zakarpattia region |date=2012-09-24 |work=Kyiv Post |agency=Interfax-Ukraine |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]] has been made a regional language in the town of [[Berehove]] in the [[Zakarpattia Oblast]], [[Moldovan language|Moldovan]] in the village of [[Tarasivtsi]] ([[Chernivtsi Oblast]]),<ref name="NewUklang2892012" /> and [[Romanian language|Romanian]] in the village of [[Bila Tserkva, Zakarpattia Oblast|Bila Tserkva]]; also in the Zakarpattia Oblast.<ref name="NewUklang2892012" /> From then on, those languages could be used in city/Oblast administrative office work and documents.<ref name="NewUklang2892012" /> As of September 2012 there were no plans for such bilingualism in [[Kyiv]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/kyiv/popov-no-bilingualism-in-kyiv-313178.html |title=Popov: No bilingualism in Kyiv |date=2012-09-19 |work=Kyiv Post |agency=Interfax-Ukraine |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Chairmen of the Supreme Council of Crimea|Chairman of the Supreme Council of Crimea]] [[Volodomyr Konstantinov]] stated in March 2013 that the August 2012 law had changed nothing in [[Crimea]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2013/03/27/6986562/|script-title=uk:“Мовний” закон Колесніченка-Ківалова нічого не дав Криму|website=Українська правда|language=uk|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref>

=== Attempted repeal of the law ===
{{see also|Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation}}
On February 23, 2014, the second day after the flight of [[Viktor Yanukovich]], while in a parliamentary session, a deputy from the [[Batkivshchyna]] party, [[Vyacheslav Kyrylenko]], moved to include in the agenda a bill to repeal the 2012 law "On the principles of the state language policy". The motion was carried with 86% of the votes in favour—232 deputies in favour vs 37 opposed against the required minimum of 226 of 334 votes. The bill was included in the agenda, immediately put to a vote with no debate and approved with the same 232 voting in favour. The bill would have made Ukrainian the sole state language at all levels.<ref name="lenta223">{{cite web|url=http://lenta.ru/news/2014/02/23/language/ |title=На Украине отменили закон о региональном статусе русского языка |publisher=Lenta.ru |access-date=2014-02-23}}</ref><ref name="BBCRLLout">{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26312008 |title=Ukraine: Speaker Oleksandr Turchynov named interim president |date=2014-02-23 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> Still, all the minority languages (including Russian) remain explicitly protected under article 10 of the [[Constitution of Ukraine|Ukrainian Constitution]]. The repeal would also bring back into force the previous law on languages, which was in place in Ukraine for 23 years before July 2012 and was regulating the use of the minority languages.

However, the move to repeal the 2012 law "On the principles of the state language policy" provoked negative reactions in [[Crimea]] and in some regions of [[Southern Ukraine|Southern]] and [[Eastern Ukraine]]. It became one of the topics of the protests against the new government approved by the parliament after the flight of [[Viktor Yanukovich]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsru.com/world/26feb2014/ukr_russian.html|title=На Украине протестуют против начатой новыми властями борьбы с русским языком|date=26 February 2014|website=NEWSru.com}}</ref>

Passage of the repeal bill was met with regret by the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/ru/%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82-%D0%B5%D0%B2%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BF%D1%8B-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BB-%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B5%D0%B2-%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BB%D1%8E%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%8C-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0-%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C%D1%88%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2/a-17470453|script-title=ru:Совет Европы призвал Киев соблюдать права меньшинств|date=3 March 2014|website=[[Deutsche Welle]]|language=ru-RU|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref> The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities expressed concern over possible further unrest. He also proposed to give advice and facilitate discussions on new legislation, declaring that "we must avoid the mistakes made last time [in 2012] when unbalanced legislation was adopted without a proper dialogue in the Verkhovna Rada."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.osce.org/hcnm/115643|title=Restraint, responsibility and dialogue needed in Ukraine, including Crimea, says OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities {{!}} OSCE|website=[[osce.org]]|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref> The bill was also criticized by the Ambassador for Human Rights of the Russian foreign ministry.<ref>{{in lang|ru}} [http://ria.ru/world/20140225/996988557.html Долгов: отмена закона о языке ущемляет права нацменьшинства на Украине] [[RIA Novosti]]</ref> Bulgarian and Romanian foreign ministers evaluated it as a step in the wrong direction,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mfa.bg/en/events/6/1/1311/index.html|title=Nickolay Mladenov: All agreed that a political solution to the problem in Afghanistan should be found, Deutsche Welle Radio, January 29, 2010|website=www.mfa.bg|language=en|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref> and the Greek foreign minister expressed disappointment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/1004051|title=МИД Греции разочарован решением Рады запретить использование языков нацменьшинств|website=[[ITAR-TASS]]|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref> The Hungarian foreign ministry expressed serious concerns, noting that the decision "could question the commitment of the new Ukrainian administration towards democracy".<ref>[http://www.kormany.hu/en/ministry-of-foreign-affairs/news/repealing-the-language-law-could-question-ukraine-s-democratic-commitment Repealing the language law could question Ukraine's democratic commitment] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304195112/http://www.kormany.hu/en/ministry-of-foreign-affairs/news/repealing-the-language-law-could-question-ukraine-s-democratic-commitment |date=4 March 2014 }} 25.02.2014</ref> The Polish foreign minister called it a mistake.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ria.ru/20140227/997220812.html|script-title=ru:Сикорский счел ошибкой отмену закона о региональных языках на Украине|date=27 February 2014|website=РИА Новости|language=ru|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref> According to Uilleam Blacker writing for [[openDemocracy]], the repeal bill contained no specific threat to the Russian language.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/odr/no-real-threat-to-ukraines-russian-speakers-language-law-ban/|title=No real threat to Ukraine's Russian speakers|website=openDemocracy|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://euromaidanpress.com/2014/05/25/ukrainian-vs-russian-the-ban-that-never-was/|title=Ukrainian Vs Russian: The Ban That Never Was|last=Euromaidan Press Staff|date=2014-05-25|website=Euromaidan Press|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref>

After urgently ordering a working group to draft a replacement law on February 27, acting President [[Oleksandr Turchynov]] declared on 3 March that he will not sign the repeal bill until a replacement law is adopted to "accommodate the interests of both eastern and western Ukraine and of all ethnic groups and minorities".<ref name="Tpausedsignature">{{in lang|uk}} [http://ua.korrespondent.net/ukraine/politics/3314338-turchynov-vidmovyvsia-pidpysaty-rishennia-rady-pro-skasuvannia-zakonu-pro-movy Турчинов відмовився підписати рішення Ради про скасування закону про мови] Кorrespondent.net, 3 березня 2014</ref><ref name="nytimes language veto">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/03/world/europe/ukraine-turns-to-its-oligarchs-for-political-help.html |title=Ukraine Turns to Its Oligarchs for Political Help |last=Kramer |first=Andrew |date=2 March 2014 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="itar3012">{{cite web |date=2014-03-01 |title=Ukraine's parliament-appointed acting president says language law to stay effective |url=https://tass.com/world/721537 |publisher=[[ITAR-TASS]]}}</ref> Since then the repeal bill has not been signed nor vetoed by the President, and its status has long remained "ready for sign".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc4_1?pf3511=45291|title=Офіційний портал Верховної Ради України|website=w1.c1.rada.gov.ua|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref>

On 7 April 2014, [[Batkivshchyna]] leader [[Yulia Tymoshenko]] stated she supported the 2012 language law.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/199537.html|title=Russian language must retain regional language status – Tymoshenko|date=7 April 2014|website=Interfax-Ukraine|access-date=2019-05-04}}</ref> On 3 November 2014, newly elected president [[Petro Poroshenko]] declared that the language policy in Ukraine will be amended.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.president.gov.ua/news/31564.html|title=Вітання Президента України з нагоди Всеукраїнського дня працівників культури та майстрів народного мистецтва і Дня української писемності та мови|date=9 November 2014|website=president.gov.ua|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213211012/http://www.president.gov.ua/news/31564.html|archive-date=13 February 2015}}</ref>

=== Law declared unconstitutional ===
On 10 July 2014, 57 parliamentary deputies appealed the [[Constitutional Court of Ukraine]] to review the 2012 law "On the principles of the state language policy".<ref name="KSU10117" /> On 10 October 2014, the court opened the proceedings on the constitutionality of the law.<ref name="KSU10117" /> On 14 December 2016, the Constitutional Court ended the oral proceedings, and on 13 January 2017, moved to the closed part of the process.<ref name="KSU10117">{{in lang|uk}} [http://pda.pravda.com.ua/news/id_7132076/ KSU will continue to review "the law Kolesnichenko-Kivalov" behind closed doors], [[Ukrayinska Pravda]] (10 January 2017)<br>[http://pda.pravda.com.ua/news/id_7132390/ CCU will continue to review "the law Kolesnichenko-Kivalov" January 19], [[Ukrayinska Pravda]] (13 January 2017)</ref> On 28 February 2018, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine ruled the law unconstitutional.<ref name="KSU10ZZ117" />

== 2015 <nowiki>''Decommunization law''</nowiki> ==
In April 2015, the [[Verkhovna Rada]] passed a law banning communist as well as Nazi propaganda and symbols.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-04-14 |title=Goodbye, Lenin: Ukraine moves to ban communist symbols |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32267075 |access-date=2022-03-22}}</ref> The names of cities, villages, streets and squares that referred to communist slogans and leaders fell under the ban and had to be changed.{{sfn|Reznik|2018|p=182}} According to [[Volodymyr Viatrovych]], who had inspired the law, in October 2016 Ukraine's toponymy had undergone a complete process of [[Decommunization in Ukraine|decommunization]], including in the [[Donbas]] region.{{sfn|Reznik|2018|p=183}} Former Dnipropetrovsk became [[Dnipro]], and Kirovohrad became [[Kropyvnytskyi]].

The de-Russification of Ukrainian toponymy implied also the removal from railways and airports of any information board written in Russian; as of December 2016, all information had to be given only in Ukrainian and English.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |date=2022-08-26 |title=The cost of Ukraine's de-Russification |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/the-cost-of-ukraines-de-russification/ |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=POLITICO |language=en-US}}</ref> Free Ukrainian language courses for civil servants working in the Donetsk regional administration were organised, and from January 2017 Ukrainian became the only language of official and interpersonal communication in public institutions.{{sfn|Reznik|2018|p=183}}

== 2016 Ukrainian language quotas in radio broadcasting ==
In June 2016, a new law was enacted requiring Ukraine's radio stations to play a quota of Ukrainian-language songs each day. At least a quarter of a radio station's daily playlist had to be in Ukrainian from then on, rising to 30% in 12 months' time and 35% a year after that. The law also required TV and radio broadcasters to ensure at least 60% of programs such as news and analysis are in Ukrainian.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |date=2016-11-08 |title=Ukraine imposes language quotas for radio playlists |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-37908828 |access-date=2022-03-22}}</ref> The law entered into force on 9 November, the national day for Ukrainian Language and Literacy.{{sfn|Reznik|2018|p=183}} President [[Petro Poroshenko]] hailed the law calling on people to share their favourite Ukrainian song on social medias,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-11-08 |title=Порошенко: Кожна четверта пісня на радіо тепер буде українською мовою |url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2016/11/8/7126097/ |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=Українська правда ([[Ukrayinska Pravda]]) |language=uk}}</ref> while the pro-Russian [[Opposition Bloc]] criticised the law and said people had the right to decide for themselves what to listen to, and in which language.<ref name=":6" /> According to ''[[The Economist]]'', the passage of a law downgrading Russian in Ukraine could have helped "spark war in that country; Vladimir Putin has used it as evidence that Ukrainian nationalists are bent on wiping out Russian culture there."<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-01-28 |title=What would the doctor prescribe? |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/books-and-arts/2016/01/28/what-would-the-doctor-prescribe |access-date=2022-03-22 |issn=0013-0613}}</ref>

In May 2017, Verkhovna Rada enacted an analogous law prescribing a 75% Ukrainian-language quotas in all television channels operating in Ukraine.{{sfn|Reznik|2018|p=183}}

== 2017 Education Law ==
Ukraine's 2017 [[Education in Ukraine|education law]] made Ukrainian the required language of study in state schools from the fifth grade on, i.e. at the basic secondary and upper secondary levels, although it allowed instruction in other languages as a separate subject,<ref name="Sasse">{{Cite web |last=Sasse |first=Gwendolyn |date=October 2, 2017 |title=Ukraine's Poorly Timed Education Law |url=https://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/73272 |website=[[Carnegie Europe]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=8 December 2017 |title=Criticism of Ukraine's language law justified: rights body |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-language/criticism-of-ukraines-language-law-justified-rights-body-idUSKBN1E227K}}</ref><ref name=":33">{{Cite web |last=Wesolowsky |first=Tony |date=September 24, 2017 |title=Ukrainian Language Bill Facing Barrage Of Criticism From Minorities, Foreign Capitals |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-language-legislation-minority-languages-russia-hungary-romania/28753925.html |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] |language=en}}</ref> to be phased in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-02-14 |title=Ukraine agrees to concessions to Hungary in language row |url=https://www.unian.info/politics/2395156-ukraine-agrees-to-concessions-to-hungary-in-language-row.html |access-date=2020-04-14 |website=Unian |language=en}}</ref> Education in minority languages in kindergarten and primary school remained unchanged, but at secondary level, students could only learn their native languages as a separate subject.<ref name="Sasse" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 26, 2017 |title=Ukrainian President Signs Controversial Language Bill Into Law |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/ukrainian-poroshenko-signs-controversial-language-bill-into-law/28757195.html |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=[[RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty]] |language=en}}</ref> Additionally, from grade five onwards, two or more subjects could be taught in any of the [[Languages of the European Union|languages of the EU]], which include minority languages such as Hungarian, Polish and Romanian but not Belarusian, Yiddish and Russian.<ref name="Venice_Commission_2017">{{Cite report |url=https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL-AD(2017)030-e |title=Opinion 902/2017. On the provisions of the Law on Education of 5 September 2017 which concern the use of the state language and minority and other languages in education, adopted by the Venice Commission at its 113th Plenary Session (8-9 December 2017) |date=11 December 2017 |publisher=[[European Commission for Democracy through Law]] |docket=CDL-AD(2017)030-e |place=Strasbourg}}</ref><ref name=":33" />

The 2017 education law provoked harsh reactions in [[Hungary]], [[Romania]], [[Russia]], [[Poland]], [[Bulgaria]] and other countries.<ref name="Sasse" /><ref name=":33" /> The Romanian parliament passed a motion condemning the law and warned that Ukraine could not proceed towards EU integration without respecting the language rights of national minorities.<ref name="Sasse" /> The [[State Duma|Russian Duma]] and [[Federation Council (Russia)|Federation Council]] also adopted a resolution lamenting the violation of the language rights of the Russian-speaking minority in Ukraine.<ref name="Sasse" /> The [[Hungary–Ukraine relations]] rapidly deteriorated over the issue of the [[Hungarians in Ukraine|Hungarian minority in Ukraine]], as the education law was accused of being nationalistic and needlessly provocative.<ref>{{cite news |date=27 September 2017 |title=Ukraine defends education reform as Hungary promises 'pain' |newspaper=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/ukraine-defends-education-reform-as-hungary-promises-pain-1.3235916}}</ref><ref name=":32">"[https://www.neweurope.eu/article/hungary-ukraine-relations-hit-new-low-troop-deployment/ Hungary-Ukraine relations hit new low over troop deployment] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331181346/https://www.neweurope.eu/article/hungary-ukraine-relations-hit-new-low-troop-deployment/ |date=31 March 2019 }}". ''New Europe''. 26 March 2018.</ref> Ukrainian President [[Petro Poroshenko]] defended the law, claiming that "The law ensures equal opportunities for all ... It guarantees every graduate strong language skills essential for a successful career in Ukraine".<ref name=":72">{{Cite web |date=2017-09-26 |title=Ukrainian President Signs Controversial Language Bill Into Law |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/ukrainian-poroshenko-signs-controversial-language-bill-into-law/28757195.html |access-date=2020-04-14 |website=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty |language=en}}</ref> Hungary is since 2017 blocking Ukraine's attempt to integrate within the EU and NATO to help the Hungarian minority in Ukraine.<ref name="minorPPUUkrrights1232020">{{Cite web|url=https://emerging-europe.com/news/hungary-and-ukraine-continue-war-of-words-over-minority-rights/|title=Hungary and Ukraine continue war of words over minority rights|first=Portia|last=Kentish|date=March 12, 2020|website=Emerging Europe &#124; Intelligence, Community, News}}<br>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/hungary-pm-criticizes-ukraine-says-no-rush-ratify-swedens-nato-bid-2023-09-25/|title=Hungary PM criticizes Ukraine, says no rush to ratify Sweden's NATO bid|date=25 September 2023|access-date=29 September 2023|publisher=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>

On 7 December 2017, the [[European Commission for Democracy through Law]] (Venice Commission) stated that criticism of the law seemed justified, as the shift to all-Ukrainian secondary education could infringe on the rights of ethnic minorities.<ref name=":42">{{Cite web |date=8 December 2017 |title=Criticism of Ukraine's language law justified: rights body |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-language-idUSKBN1E227K |work=Reuters.com}}</ref><ref name="Venice_Commission_2017" /> Moreover, according to the Venice Commission, allowing certain subjects to be taught in the official languages of the EU could discriminate against speakers of Russian, the most widely used non-state language.<ref name=":42" /><ref name="Venice_Commission_2017" /> The Venice Commission formulated seven recommendations to the Ukrainian Government to amend the law; according to the new Ukrainian President [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]], Ukraine has implemented six of these seven recommendations as of 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 October 2019 |title=Ukraine Has Implemented 6 Of 7 Venice Commission Recommendations On Education Law - Zelenskyy Tells Ukraine-NATO Commission |language=en |work=[[Ukrainian News Agency]] |url=https://ukranews.com/en/news/663121-ukraine-has-implemented-6-of-7-venice-commission-recommendations-on-education-law-zelenskyy-tells |access-date=}}</ref>

In January 2020 the law was changed and made it legal to teach "one or more disciplines" in "two or more languages – in the official state language, in English, in another official [[languages of the European Union]]".<ref name="7105243UkrLaLaw">{{cite web |url=https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/articles/2020/01/17/7105243/|title=Reconciliation schools: do the new language norms rule Ukraine's conflict with Hungary|date=7 January 2020|access-date=29 September 2023|publisher=[[European Pravda]]|language=Ukrainian}}</ref> All not state funded schools were made free to choose their own language of instruction.<ref name="7105243UkrLaLaw"/>

According to the 2020 law until the fifth year of education all lessons can be completely taught in the [[Languages of Ukraine|minority language]] without mandatory teaching of subjects in Ukrainian.<ref name="7105243UkrLaLaw"/> In the fifth year not less than 20% of the lessons must be taught in Ukrainian.<ref name="7105243UkrLaLaw"/> Then every year the volume of teaching in the state language (Ukrainian) should increase, reaching 40% in the ninth grade.<ref name="7105243UkrLaLaw"/> In the twelfth and final year at least 60% of education should be taught in Ukrainian.<ref name="7105243UkrLaLaw"/>

The 2017 language education law stipulated a 3-year transitional period to come in full effect.<ref name="UNIAN 2159231">[https://www.unian.info/society/2159231-new-education-law-becomes-effective-in-ukraine.html New education law becomes effective in Ukraine]</ref><ref name=law2145-VIIIrada>[http://zakon2.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2145-19/page Про освіту] | від 05.09.2017 № 2145-VIII (Сторінка 1 з 7)</ref> In February 2018, this period was extended until 2023.<ref>[https://www.unian.info/m/politics/2395156-ukraine-agrees-to-concessions-to-hungary-in-language-row.html Ukraine agrees to concessions to Hungary in language row]</ref> In June 2023 this period was again extended to September 2024.<ref name="7406297UkrLaLaw">{{cite web |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2023/06/10/7406297/|title=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2023/06/10/7406297/ with EU languages|date=10 June 2023|access-date=29 September 2023|publisher=[[European Pravda]]|language=Ukrainian}}</ref>

== Lviv Oblast ==
{{see also|Russian book ban in Ukraine}}
In September 2018, [[Lviv Oblast Council]] introduced a ban on the public use of the Russian-language cultural products (movies, books, songs, etc.) throughout the [[Lviv Oblast]] until the full cessation of the occupation of Ukraine's territory.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.unian.info/society/10266729-lviv-region-bans-movies-books-songs-in-russian-until-end-of-russian-occupation.html|title=Lviv region bans movies, books, songs in Russian until end of Russian occupation|date=19 September 2018|work=[[Ukrainian Independent Information Agency|Unian]]}}</ref> Human rights activists and lawyers called the law ill-defined, illegal, and unconstitutional.<ref name=":4" /> The Lviv Regional Council decision was successfully challenged in an Administrative Court, among others by the [[Chuhuiv Human Rights Group]]; however, on 14 May 2019, the judgment of the Administrative Court was revoked on technical grounds by the Cassation Chamber of the [[Supreme Court of Ukraine]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://khpg.org/en/index.php?id=1566261480|title='Russian language moratorium' headed for Strasbourg after Supreme Court reinstatement|last=Coynash|first=Halya|date=2019-08-20|website=Human Rights in Ukraine|access-date=2019-08-26}}</ref> The Chuhuiv Human Rights Group announced that they would file a lawsuit to the [[European Court of Human Rights]] against the ban.<ref name=":4" /> The ban was overturned in January 2019 by a court.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-05-24 |title=Мораторій на російськомовний продукт на Львівщині скасовано - LDN |url=https://ldn.org.ua/success-story/moratorij-na-rosijskomovnyj-produkt-na-lvivschyni-skasovano/ |access-date=2022-06-03 |website=ldn.org.ua |language=uk-UA}}</ref>

== 2019 Law on Protecting the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language ==
{{main|Law of Ukraine "On protecting the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the State language"}}
{{Infobox legislation
| short_title    = "On protecting the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the State language"
| long_title     = {{ill|On protecting the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the State language|uk|Про забезпечення функціонування української мови як державної|ar|قانون بشأن توفير أداء اللغة الأوكرانية كلغة للدولة}}
| citation       = 
| territorial_extent = 
| enacted_by     = 
| date_enacted   = 
| 1st_reading    = 4 October 2018
| 2nd_reading    = 25 April 2019
| 3rd_reading    = 
| bill_date      = 
| introduced_by  = 
| summary        = 
| keywords       = 
| status         = in force
| date_assented  = 
| date_signed    = 15 May 2019
| signed_by      = [[Petro Poroshenko]]
| date_commenced = 
| date_effective = 16 July 2019<ref name="unian.info">{{Cite web | url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10618737-language-law-comes-to-force-in-ukraine.html | title=Language law comes to force in Ukraine}}</ref>
| legislature    = [[Verkhovna Rada]]
| image          = Lesser Coat of Arms of Ukraine.svg
| caption        = 
| bill           = 5670-d, "On Protecting the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language"
| bill_citation  = 
}}

The law "On Protecting the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language" made the use of Ukrainian compulsory (totally or within certain quotas) in the work of some public authorities, in the electoral procedures and political campaigning, in pre-school, school and university education, in scientific, cultural and sporting activities, in book publishing and book distribution, in printed mass media, television and radio broadcasting, in economic and social life (commercial advertising, public events), in hospitals and nursing homes, and in the activities of political parties and other legal entities (e.g. non-governmental organizations) registered in Ukraine.<ref name=":12" /> Some special exemptions are provided for the [[Crimean Tatar language]], other languages of indigenous peoples of Ukraine, the English language and the other [[Languages of the European Union|official languages of the European Union]]; as languages of minorities that are not EU official languages, [[Russian language|Russian]], [[Belarusian language|Belarusian]] and [[Yiddish]] are excluded from the exemptions.<ref name=":12" />

=== First vote ===
On 4 October 2018, the [[Verkhovna Rada]] (the Ukrainian parliament) voted with a majority of 261 MPs in the first reading of a new language law (bill n. 5670-d, "On Protecting the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc4_1?pf3511=61994|title=Проект Закону про забезпечення функціонування української мови як державної|website=w1.c1.rada.gov.ua|access-date=2019-02-22}}</ref>). Thereafter, the bill "was prepared for second reading for about four months. During this time, the Verkhovna Rada's committee on culture and spirituality worked out over 2,000 amendments to the document that were proposed by people's deputies. In particular, the document proposes creating the national commission on the standards of the state language and introducing the post of commissioner for the protection of the state language. Lawmakers started considering the document at second reading on February 28. The Verkhovna Rada continue[d] to review amendments to the bill during March 12–15 [2019]."<ref>{{Cite web|date=4 October 2018|title=Parliament passes bill on Ukrainian language at first reading|url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/2552057-parliament-passes-bill-on-ukrainian-language-at-first-reading.html|access-date=2019-02-02|website=www.ukrinform.net|language=en}}</ref> The [[Council of Europe]] asked the Verkhovna Rada to postpone the adoption of the bill until the [[2019 Ukrainian presidential election|post-election period]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-elections/2657965-council-of-europe-urges-ukraine-to-adopt-language-bill-after-elections.html|title=Council of Europe urges Ukraine to adopt language bill after elections|date=12 March 2019|website=www.ukrinform.net|language=en|access-date=2019-03-12}}</ref>

=== Second vote and signature ===
On 25 April 2019, the [[Ukrainian parliament]] adopted the law.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10530402-draft-law-on-ukrainian-language-adopted-by-278-lawmakers.html|title=Draft law on Ukrainian language adopted by 278 lawmakers|date=25 April 2019|website=www.unian.info|language=en|access-date=2019-04-25}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-parliament-language-idUSKCN1S111N|title=Ukraine passes language law, irritating president-elect and Russia|date=2019-04-25|work=Reuters|access-date=2019-04-26|language=en}}</ref> [[Filaret (Denysenko)|Patriarch Filaret]] and former [[Ukrainian President]] [[Viktor Yushchenko]] were present in the parliament during the vote.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shandra|first=Alya|date=2019-04-25|title=Ukraine adopts law expanding scope of Ukrainian language|url=http://euromaidanpress.com/2019/04/25/ukraine-adopts-law-expanding-scope-of-ukrainian-language/|access-date=2019-04-27|website=Euromaidan Press|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-04-25|title=Ukraine Parliament has passed the law on the Ukrainian language|url=https://empr.media/news/ukraine/ukraine-parliament-has-passed-the-law-on-the-ukrainian-language/|access-date=2019-04-27|website=EMPR: Russia - Ukraine war news, latest Ukraine updates|language=en-US|archive-date=28 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628122640/https://empr.media/news/ukraine/ukraine-parliament-has-passed-the-law-on-the-ukrainian-language/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On the same day pro-Russian members of the Ukrainian Parliament blocked the [[Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada|chairman]], [[Andriy Parubiy]], from signing it by introducing two draft resolutions to repeal the law. "If parliament d[id] not support these resolutions, [Parliament chairman] Andriy Parubiy ha[d] the right to sign the law and forward it to the President of Ukraine to get his signature on it."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10531104-pro-russian-faction-s-deputies-block-signing-of-language-law-in-ukraine.html|title=Pro-Russian faction's deputies block signing of language law in Ukraine|date=25 April 2019|website=www.unian.info|language=en|access-date=2019-04-25}}</ref> In total, four appeals to cancel the law were submitted, and it was planned that the parliament would vote on those on 14 May 2019. Parubiy declared that after the parliament will have rejected those appeals, he will sign the law and that the Ukrainian President will sign it "without delay."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10532091-rada-speaker-sets-date-for-final-battle-for-blocked-language-law.html|title=Rada Speaker sets date for final battle for blocked language law|date=26 April 2019|website=www.unian.info|language=en|access-date=2019-04-26}}</ref>

Then President [[Petro Poroshenko]] called the adoption of the law by the Ukrainian parliament "a historic decision"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10530558-poroshenko-calls-adopted-draft-law-on-ukrainian-language-historic-decision.html|title=Poroshenko calls adopted draft law on Ukrainian language historic decision|date=25 April 2019|website=www.unian.info|language=en|access-date=2019-04-25}}</ref> and said he would sign the law as soon as he received it from parliament.<ref>{{Cite web|title=President will sign the Law on language as soon as he receives it from the Verkhovna Rada|url=https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/prezident-pidpishe-zakon-pro-movu-shojno-vin-nadijde-z-verho-55042|date=25 April 2019|website=Official website of the President of Ukraine|language=en|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427020913/https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/prezident-pidpishe-zakon-pro-movu-shojno-vin-nadijde-z-verho-55042|archive-date=27 April 2019|access-date=2019-04-27}}</ref> Poroshenko also said that the law "would not have been approved without [[Andriy Parubiy]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10534284-poroshenko-says-to-sign-law-on-ukrainian-language.html|title=Poroshenko says to sign law on Ukrainian language|date=29 April 2019|website=www.unian.info|language=en|access-date=2019-04-30}}</ref>[[File:Президент підписав закон про державну мову; Мова – це платформа, на якій будується нація і держава 2.jpg|thumb|Poroshenko showing the law signed. Chairman of the Ukrainian parliament Andriy Parubiy is on the left.|215x215px]]

Parliament chairman Parubiy signed the law on 14 May 2019, after the four draft bills to cancel the bill n. 5670-d were rejected by parliament.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10548408-parliament-speaker-parubiy-signs-ukraine-s-language-bill.html|title=Parliament Speaker Parubiy signs Ukraine's language bill|date=14 May 2019|website=www.unian.info|language=en|access-date=2019-05-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/587136.html|title=Parliament Speaker Parubiy signs draft law on Ukrainian language|date=14 May 2019|website=Interfax-Ukraine|access-date=2019-05-14}}</ref> Parubiy said that the law "will be signed by the president of Ukraine in the coming hours or days."<ref name=":1" /> On 15 May 2019, President Poroshenko, [[2019 Ukrainian presidential election|in his last week in office]], signed the law.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10550289-poroshenko-enacts-ukraine-s-language-law.html|title=Poroshenko enacts Ukraine's language law|date=15 May 2019|website=www.unian.info|language=en|access-date=2019-05-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/prezident-pidpisav-zakon-pro-derzhavnu-movu-mova-ce-platform-55319|title=President signed the law on the official language: Language is a platform on which the nation and state are built|date=15 May 2019|website=Official website of the President of Ukraine|language=en|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516190140/https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/prezident-pidpisav-zakon-pro-derzhavnu-movu-mova-ce-platform-55319|archive-date=16 May 2019|access-date=2019-05-20}}</ref>

On 21 June 2019, the [[Constitutional Court of Ukraine|Constitutional Court]] received a petition from 51 members of the Ukrainian Parliament demanding that the law be checked for constitutionality. On 14 July 2021, the Constitutional Court ruled the law as constitutional.<ref name="7300512constitutionalULL">{{Cite web|title=КС: Закон про функціонування української мови як державної конституційний|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2021/07/14/7300512/|access-date=2021-07-14|website=[[Українська правда]]|language=uk}}</ref>

=== Analysis ===
The law regulates the [[Ukrainian language]] in the media, education, and business aiming to strengthen its role in a country where much of the public still speaks Russian.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sukhov |first=Oleg |date=2019-04-25 |title=Parliament passes Ukrainian language bill |url=https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/parliament-passes-ukrainian-language-bill.html |access-date=2019-05-18 |website=KyivPost}}</ref> The Law does not apply to the sphere of private communication and the conduct of religious rites.<ref name=":12" />

The law requires every citizen to be proficient in Ukrainian and prevents access to "state positions" (members of parliament, civil servants, etc.) if their knowledge of Ukrainian is insufficient.<ref name=":12" /> Ukrainian is the working language of both central and local authorities. In principle, all public authorities only accept to examine documents and applications written in Ukrainian, and their regulations and individual implementing acts are written in Ukrainian.<ref name=":12" />

The law requires elections and referendums to be conducted in Ukrainian and stipulates that all campaign material "broadcast on television, radio, placed on outdoor advertising media, distributed in the form of leaflets and newspapers, or posted on the Internet" be in Ukrainian.<ref name=":12" /> Political parties and non-governmental organizations registered in Ukraine are required to adopt their "constituent documents and decisions" in Ukrainian and use Ukrainian in their dealings with the public authorities.<ref name=":12" />

Members of national minorities have the right to receive only preschool and primary education in their own language. As for secondary education, they have the right to study their own language as a subject, while one or more other subjects may be taught in English or one of the [[Languages of the European Union|official languages of the European Union]]. Members of national minorities who do not speak an official EU language ([[Belarusians]], [[Gagauz people|Gagauzes]], [[Ukrainian Jews|Jews]], and [[Russians in Ukraine|Russians]]) may study at the secondary school level their language only as a subject.<ref name=":12" />

Scientific publications and public scientific events can only be in Ukrainian, English or other official EU language, as well as all cultural, artistic, recreational and entertainment events, unless the use of other languages is justified for artistic reasons or for the purpose of protecting ethnic minority languages.<ref name=":12" /> Publishing houses are required to print, and bookstores are required to sell, at least 50% of their books in Ukrainian.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=2019-04-25 |title=Parliament passes Ukrainian language bill - KyivPost - Ukraine's Global Voice |url=https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/parliament-passes-ukrainian-language-bill.html |access-date=2022-03-19 |website=KyivPost}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-04-25 |title=Ukraine passes language law, irritating president-elect and Russia |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-parliament-language-idUSKCN1S111N |access-date=2022-03-19}}</ref> TV and film distribution firms must ensure 90% of their content is in Ukrainian.<ref name=":12" /> The publication of print media in languages other than Ukrainian is permitted only on condition that they are accompanied by a Ukrainian translation, which must be identical in size, format, and substance. Exceptions are media published in Crimean Tatar or other indigenous languages (minorities which do not have a kin-State, such as [[Crimean Karaites|Karaite]] and [[Krymchaks|Krimchak]] minorities) and those published in English or other official EU languages.<ref name=":12" /> Films produced in Ukraine must be in Ukrainian, and foreign films must be dubbed into Ukrainian unless they meet certain standards set out by the Ukrainian authorities.<ref name=":02" />

All publicly available information, such as advertisements, directional signs, pointers, signboards, messages, captions, must be in Ukrainian.<ref name=":12" /> Ukrainian is the language of "public events" in the broad sense that are organized or financed, in whole or in part, by any public governmental authority. Another language may be used, but the organizer must provide simultaneous or consecutive translation into Ukrainian "if requested by at least one participant in such public event".<ref name=":12" />

The use of Ukrainian is also mandatory in the field of health care, medical care and medical services, but at the request of the service user, the service can be provided in another language acceptable to the parties.<ref name=":12" />

Administrative pecuniary sanctions are applied as a consequence of violations of the law.<ref name=":12" />

Contrary to the minority languages which are EU official languages, [[Russian language|Russian]], [[Belarusian language|Belarusian]] and [[Yiddish]] are granted no exemption for the purposes of the law.<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":13"/>

=== Reactions ===
On 26 April 2019, Hungarian Foreign Minister [[Péter Szijjártó]] said the law was "unacceptable" and "part of Poroshenko's anti-Hungarian policy".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-04-26|title=Hungarian foreign minister: Ukraine's language law 'unacceptable'|url=https://dailynewshungary.com/hungarian-foreign-minister-ukraines-language-law-unacceptable/|access-date=2021-01-26|website=Daily News Hungary|language=en-US}}</ref>

On 30 April 2019, the [[European Commission]] said it would study and give its assessment to the law.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/584858.html|title=Brussels intends to study content of Ukrainian language law|date=30 April 2019|website=Interfax-Ukraine|access-date=2019-04-30}}</ref> On 22 May 2019, the Chair of the Monitoring Committee of the [[Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe]] asked the [[Venice Commission]] to analyze the law.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/society/10560810-venice-commission-to-analyze-ukraine-s-language-law.html|title=Venice Commission to analyze Ukraine's language law|date=23 May 2019|website=www.unian.info|language=en|access-date=2019-05-23}}</ref> On 1 June 2019, [[OHCHR]] expressed concern about the absence of special legislation regulating the use of minority languages in Ukraine and criticised the distinction between minorities speaking an official EU language and other national minorities.<ref>{{cite report |url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/report-human-rights-situation-ukraine-16-february-15-may-2019 |title=Report on the human rights situation in Ukraine 16 February to 15 May 2019 |date=1 June 2019 |publisher=[[OHCHR]] |at=para. 81}}</ref>

In December 2019, the Venice Commission said that several provisions of the law failed to strike a fair balance between promoting the Ukrainian language and safeguarding minorities' linguistic rights.<ref>{{cite report |url=https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL-AD(2019)032-e |title=Opinion on the Law on Supporting the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as State Language |date=9 December 2019 |publisher=[[European Commission for Democracy through Law]] (Venice Commission) |id=CDL-AD(2019)032 |access-date=29 March 2022 |format=PDF}}</ref>

In May 2019, the Kyiv District Administrative Court dismissed an NGO's application to prohibit Verkhovna Rada President [[Andriy Parubiy]] from signing and publishing the law.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/586684.html|title=Kyiv court turns down claim against language law bill – it will be signed into law and published|date=11 May 2019|website=Interfax-Ukraine|access-date=2019-05-12}}</ref>

Russia asked the [[President of the UN Security Council]] to convene a meeting over the adoption by Ukraine's parliament of the law.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10553787-another-act-of-absurdity-russia-wants-un-security-council-meeting-over-ukrainian-language-law.html|title="Another act of absurdity": Russia wants UN Security Council meeting over Ukrainian language law|date=18 May 2019|website=www.unian.info|language=en|access-date=2019-05-18}}</ref>

In January 2022, [[Human Rights Watch]] expressed concerns about protection for minority languages.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |date=2022-01-19 |title=New Language Requirement Raises Concerns in Ukraine |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/01/19/new-language-requirement-raises-concerns-ukraine |access-date=2022-03-29 |website=Human Rights Watch |language=en}}</ref>

== 2022 restriction on Russian books and music ==
On 19 June 2022, the Ukrainian parliament passed two laws which place severe restrictions on Russian books and music.<ref name=":8"/><ref name=":14" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-20 |title=Ukraine to restrict Russian books, music in latest cultural break from Moscow |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/ukraine-to-restrict-russian-books-music-in-latest-cultural-break-from-moscow/ |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=www.euractiv.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> One law prohibits Russian citizens from printing books unless they renounce their Russian passport and take Ukrainian citizenship.<ref name=":8" /> The law also prohibits the import of books printed in Russia, Belarus, and the occupied Ukrainian territories, and requires a special authorisation for the import of Russian books from other countries.<ref name=":8" /> The other law bans the playing of music by post-Soviet era artists in the media and public transport and increases the quotas of Ukrainian speech and music contents in television and radio broadcasts.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":13"/>

On 7 July, President [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]] signed the law restricting the public performance of Russian music on television and radio,<ref name=":9" /> and on 7 October, the law entered into force.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |last=БУРЧЕНЮК |first=Ірина |date=31 October 2022 |title=Щодо обмеження публічного використання музичного продукту держави-агресора |trans-title=Regarding the restriction of public use of the music product of the aggressor state |url=https://legalaid.gov.ua/publikatsiyi/shhodo-obmezhennya-publichnogo-vykorystannya-muzychnogo-produktu-derzhavy-agresora/ |website=legalaid.gov.ua}}</ref> The law allows the playing of post-Soviet Russian music if the musician is included in a "white list" of artists who have publicly condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Антоненко |first=Єва |date=July 7, 2022 |title=В Україні назавжди заборонили російську музику: Зеленський підписав закон |trans-title=Russian music is banned in Ukraine forever: Zelensky signs law |url=https://klymenko-time.com/uk/novosti/v-ukraine-navsegda-zapretili-rossijskuyu-muzyku-zelenskij-podpisal-zakon/ |website=Klymenko Time |access-date=18 November 2022 |archive-date=10 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310095152/https://klymenko-time.com/uk/novosti/v-ukraine-navsegda-zapretili-rossijskuyu-muzyku-zelenskij-podpisal-zakon/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Security Service of Ukraine]] decides on inclusion and exclusion from the list.<ref name=":10" />

===2023 Kyiv language ban===
On 13 July 2023, the [[Kyiv City Council]] prohibited the usage of "Russian language cultural product" in the city of Kyiv. This includes performance of all Russian language product including books, music, and films, in public.<ref>{{cite news |title=Київрада наклала мораторій на публічне використання російськомовного культурного продукту на території столиці |url=https://kyivcity.gov.ua/news/kivrada_naklala_moratoriy_na_publichne_vikoristannya_rosiyskomovnogo_kulturnogo_produktu_na_teritori_stolitsi/ |work=Kyiv City portal |date=13 July 2023}}</ref>

==2023 changes to national minorities' rights==
On 8 December 2022, the Ukrainian parliament passed a bill that amend some laws on the rights of [[Minorities in Ukraine|national minorities]] in light of the [[Council of Europe]]’s expert assessment and in order to meet one of the [[European Commission]]’s criteria for the opening of [[Accession of Ukraine to the European Union|Ukrainian European Union membership negotiations]].<ref name="7432248LPU">{{Cite web| url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/12/8/7432248/| title=Ukraine's Parliament approves changes to national minorities' rights required for EU membership talks| website=[[Ukrainska Pravda]]| date=December 2023| access-date=10 December 2023}}</ref> These changes gave the right to privately-owned institutions of higher education to have the right to freely choose the language of study if it is an [[Languages of the European Union|official language of the European Union]], while ensuring that persons studying at such institutions study the state language Ukrainian as a separate academic discipline; it guaranteed that national minorities whose language is an official languages of the European Union the right to use the language of the corresponding national minority in the educational process along with the state language and it ensured that pupils who had begun their general secondary education before 1 September 2018 in the language of the corresponding national minority, will have the right to continue to receive such education until the completion of their full secondary education in accordance with the rules that applied before the [[Law of Ukraine "On protecting the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the state language"]] came into force on 16 July 2019.<ref name="7432248LPU"/><ref name="unian.info">{{Cite web | url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10618737-language-law-comes-to-force-in-ukraine.html | title=Language law comes to force in Ukraine}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[History of the Russian language in Ukraine]]
* [[Chronology of Ukrainian language suppression]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite journal |last=Azhniuk |first=Bohdan |title=Ukrainian Language Legislation and the National Crisis |journal=Harvard Ukrainian Studies |publisher=Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute |volume=35 |issue=1/4 |year=2017 |issn=03635570 |jstor=44983546 |pages=311–329 |url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/44983546 |access-date=28 July 2024}}
*{{Cite web|url=http://euromaidanpress.com/2019/04/25/ukraine-adopts-law-expanding-scope-of-ukrainian-language/|title=Ukraine adopts law expanding scope of Ukrainian language ·|last=Shandra|first=Alya|date=25 April 2019|website=[[Euromaidan Press]]|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-26}}
* {{cite book |last=Maksimovtsova |first=Ksenia |title=Language Conflicts in Contemporary Estonia, Latvia and Ukraine |series=Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics and Society  |volume=205 |location=Stuttgart |publisher=ibidem |date=2019 |pages=119–158 |chapter=Chapter 3.1: The Characteristics of Language Policy in Ukraine after the USSR Disintegration |isbn=978-3-8382-1282-1}}
* {{Cite book |last=Reznik |first=Vladislava |title=Language Planning in the Post-Communist Era: The Struggles for Language Control in the New Order in Eastern Europe, Eurasia and China |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2018 |isbn=978-3-319-70925-3 |editor-last=Andrews |editor-first=Ernest |pages=169–192 |chapter=Language Policy in Independent Ukraine: A Battle for National and Linguistic Empowerment}}
* {{cite book |title=The battle for Ukrainian: a comparative perspective |publisher=Harvard University Press |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-932650-17-4 |editor-last=Flier |editor-first=Michael |publication-place=Cambridge, Massachusetts |oclc=992563580 |editor-last2=Graziosi |editor-first2=Andrea}}

==External links==
*[http://www.kyivpost.com/hot/language-bill/ Further information and news] by [[Kyiv Post]] on various actions in Ukraine taken on the regional level in response to the law
* {{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon2.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/5029-17/print1331482006276224 The text of the 2012 law]
* {{in lang|uk}} [http://portal.rada.gov.ua/rada/control/uk/publish/article/news_left?art_id=309521&cat_id=33449 Plenary sessions on May 24, 2012]
* {{in lang|uk}} [http://politiko.ua/blogpost69179 Citizen's reviews on legislation]
* {{in lang|uk}} [http://blogs.pravda.com.ua/authors/tarasyuk/4fbc98010cfe4/ Review of the bill "On the principles of the state language policy" by another parliamentary]
* {{in lang|uk}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20120530031452/http://www.partyofregions.org.ua/ru/news/politinform/show/10829 Parliamentary speech of Kolesnichenko on May 24]
* {{in lang|uk|ru}} {{YouTube|J2kyEc7nGSM|Project "Hunt on Truth"}}
*{{in lang|uk}} [https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2704-19 The text of the 2019 law]
{{Commons category|Law "On provision of the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the State language"|position=left}}
'''Important documents'''

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120902022121/http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb_n/webproc4_1?id=&pf3511=41018 Bill "On the principles of the state language policy" (#9073)] (26 August 2011)
* Bill "On languages in Ukraine" (#1015-3)
* Bill "On prohibition of narrowing the spheres of use of regional languages and languages of national minorities of Ukraine" (26 August 2011)
*[[European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages]]
*[[Constitution of Ukraine]]
{{Languages of Ukraine}}
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{{Political scandals in Ukraine}}
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{{2014 Crimean crisis}}
{{2014 pro-Russian conflict in Ukraine}}
{{Minority languages of Europe}}
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[[Category:Language policy in Ukraine| ]]
[[Category:Languages of Ukraine|*]]
[[Category:Political controversies in Ukraine]]
[[Category:Revolution of Dignity]]
[[Category:Anti-Russian sentiment]]
[[Category:Crimean Tatar language]]
[[Category:Russian language]]
[[Category:Ukrainian language]]