The number of reported violations of Ukraine’s language law has risen significantly over the past year, according to the country’s language ombudsman, Olena Ivanovska. During a recent press conference at Media Center Ukraine, she noted that there were 2,888 complaints lodged with her office in the last year.
Ivanovska highlighted that the majority of these violations were identified in online platforms (26%), followed by signage and advertising (19%), and in the service sector (18%). She also pointed out a concerning trend of public officials communicating in Russian, which she described as a positive sign of democratic engagement, as citizens are increasingly holding officials accountable for their language use.
Furthermore, the quality of complaints has improved, leading to a 63% increase in the processing of administrative cases related to language violations. A total of 706 sanctions were issued, with 57.2% being warnings and 95 resulting in fines.
Overview of Ukraine’s Language Law
Ivanovska previously advocated for higher penalties for breaches of the language law, arguing that the current fines of 3,400 or 5,800 hryvnias are insufficient to deter violations. She mentioned that officials are pushing for legislative changes to increase fines for legal entities by two to three times.
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Recent reports indicate a notable increase in complaints regarding violations of Ukraine's language law, with significant activity observed online and in public signage. The language ombudsman has called for higher penalties to ensure compliance.