President Zelensky signs law removing protected status for Russian language

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a law that removes the protected status of the Russian language in Ukraine. This legislation terminates the protections previously granted under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, which Ukraine had ratified. Parliamentary Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk stated that the decision aims to protect the Ukrainian linguistic space and fulfill European obligations. While the Russian language is not rendered illegal, the state is no longer required to provide public services in Russian. Furthermore, the law allows for restrictions on education conducted in the Russian language. Prior to the 2022 invasion, approximately one-third of the Ukrainian population used Russian as their primary language, particularly in the eastern and southern regions. Official data indicates a decline in Russian language usage following the start of the conflict. The Ukrainian government maintains that the language of an aggressor state should not benefit from protections designed for indigenous languages and ethnic communities.