The Law on the Ukrainian Language Adopted

The Verkhovna Rada adopted in general the Law “On ensuring the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language”. The consideration of the bill in the second reading was started on February 28. The deputies reviewed more than 2 thousand edits in total.

The adopted law is aimed at regulating the procedure for the use of the Ukrainian language as a state language in public spheres of social life.

In accordance with the Law, the citizens of Ukraine should be fluent in the Ukrainian language. The scope of the Law does not apply to private communication and the implementation of religious rites. From now on, every adult Ukrainian can take a course of Ukrainian language for free.

A list of persons, obliged to apply the state language in the performance of their official duties, has been determined. The Ukrainian language is recognized as a working language for such activities:

– public authorities and authorities of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea;

– local governments;

– enterprises, institutions, and organizations of state and municipal forms of ownership;

– foreign diplomatic institutions of Ukraine.

It is planned to create a new state body – the National Commission on State Language Standards, consisting of 9 members. It will check the level of proficiency in the state language and issue appropriate certificates for candidates for the positions of President, deputies, their assistants, officials, judges and their assistants, lawyers, notaries, heads of educational institutions. There will also be introduced the post of Plenipotentiary for the protection of the state language, which will protect the Ukrainian language and the rights of citizens to the opportunity of its study.

Media Changes

Regardless of the form of ownership, the broadcasting organizations will have to broadcast in the Ukrainian language, subject to certain limits.

Printed media can be published in languages, distinctive the state, subject to publication in the state language as well.

State publishing houses are required to publish no less than 50% of books a year in the state language.

Showing cultural, artistic, entertainment and entertainment events in a non-state language is allowed, if required by the author’s creative intent. However, the performances in a state or a municipal theater in such cases must be accompanied by a translation into Ukrainian by subtitles or voice interpretation.

The computer programs with a user interface must be executed in the official language and/or in English, or in other official languages of the European Union. The following programs are subject to exceptions :

– public authorities;

– local governments;

– enterprises, institutions, and organizations of state and municipal forms of ownership;

– educational institutions of state and municipal ownership.

The final provisions provide for administrative liability for violation of the Law. However, the introduction of this norm is postponed for a period of three years in order to give the citizens enough time to master the Ukrainian language at the proper level.

The following fees are foreseen:

– the amount of 5100 – 6800 hryvnias for business entities in case of repeated violations throughout the year;

– the amount of 3400 – 6800 hryvnias for public officials, in the sphere of legal proceedings, law enforcement and similar;

– the amount of 3400 – 5100 hryvnia for violations in the sphere of education, science, culture, book publishing, in users’ interfaces of computer programs and websites, in the information sphere for general introduction, public events, technical and project documentation, advertising, health care, sports, telecommunications and postal services, transport.