At the Budzhak village council in the Odesa region, 6 administrative protocols were drawn up for the use of the Russian language during a plenary session. The documents were issued to the council head, 2 officials and 3 deputies.
The violations were identified by the representative of the Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language, Anna Nerush, who monitored meetings of local councils in the Odesa region. The protocols were drawn up for non-compliance with the requirements of Article 12 of the Law of Ukraine “On Ensuring the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language”.
Overall, the plenary session was held in Ukrainian. At the same time, individual questions and comments were voiced by participants in Russian. Almost all officials in their explanations referred to the multinational composition of the community.
Anna Nerush emphasized that the ethnic composition of the community cannot be a justification for using the Russian language during the work of a local self-government body.
At the plenary session it was not Bulgarian or Gagauz that was spoken. It was Russian. And this is not a consequence of “multinationality”. This is a consequence of decades of Russification, which is a problem far beyond just the Bolhrad district. And this needs to be addressed.
Earlier, at the Odesa Regional Academic Drama Theatre, 5 administrative protocols were drawn up following an inspection. The reason was a complaint after the cancellation of a student production of the play by Mykola Kulish, “Myna Mazaylo”.
Earlier we wrote:
- Russian in the building chat: who faces a warning and a fine up to 6,800 UAH
- Fines for Russian in school chats: the ombudswoman reminded parents and teachers of the rules
- 1,501 appeals to the language ombudsman in half a year: Kyiv — 507 complaints, main violators — websites
- Russian language, signs and books: the “Masks” theatre in Odesa was issued 4 protocols at once
- “Knows Ukrainian better than some city council officials”, – Senkevych held up a Dane as an example to his subordinates
