The government proposes to exclude Russian and Belarusian from the list of languages ​​in need of protection

“The project of the Law “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine in Connection with the Update of the Official Translation of the European Charter of Regional or Minority Languages” was approved. The draft law proposes to bring the title and provisions of the Law “On the Ratification of the European Charter of Regional or Minority Languages” as well as the provisions of the Laws of Ukraine “On National Minorities (Communities) of Ukraine” and “On Media” into compliance with the updated official translation of the European Charter of Regional or Minority Languages , in particular, the words “European Charter of Regional or Minority Languages” are proposed to be replaced by the words “European Charter of Regional or minority languages,” the message says.

The draft law also proposes to update the list of languages ​​to which the appropriate regime of support and special protection provided for by the Charter will be applied.

“In particular, it is stipulated that in Ukraine the provisions of the Charter will be applied to the following languages: Bulgarian, Gagauz, Crimean Tatar, Modern Greek, German, Polish, Romanian, Slovak, Hungarian, Czech and Hebrew,” Melnychuk said.

Read also: “Not on time”: a fact check of politicians’ statements about de-Russification Russian and Belarusian languages ​​will no longer be considered as requiring separate protection or support.

This bill will now be considered by the Verkhovna Rada.

As reported, in 1992, eleven member states of the Council of Europe signed the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Today, this unique convention covers 25 states and extends to about 80 regional or minority languages, encouraging their active use in education, justice, administration, media, culture, economic and social life, cross-border cooperation.

Ukraine ratified the Charter in 2003.