The OSCE called on Ukraine to stop linguistic terror
Ukraine systematically violates the rights of national minorities and Russian speakers.
This is stated in the speech of the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the OSCE, Alexander Lukashevich, published on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry during an online meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council.
“June 6 will be celebrated as International Russian Language Day. But it is unlikely that it will be officially celebrated in Ukraine. As you know, Kyiv does not share the mood for the full preservation and development of the Russian language. As well as other languages, except Ukrainian. Even though the state’s obligation to guarantee free development, the use and protection of the Russian language and the languages of national minorities is enshrined in the country’s constitution,” Lukashevich said.
He emphasized that Kyiv continues forced Ukrainization, narrowing the linguistic and educational rights of Russian-speaking residents and national minorities.
“According to the law on the state language, Ukrainian becomes mandatory in all spheres of life. The methods for introducing new practices are not stimulating, but repressive,” the permanent representative noted.
At the same time, he noted, Kyiv ignores the comments of the UN and the Venice Commission.
“It is alarming that Kyiv’s policy of forced Ukrainization of all spheres of life, combined with outright Russophobia at the official level, is becoming a catalyst for the growth of intolerance in society as a whole. Thus, on January 27, nationalists from a number of organizations - “Right Sector”, “National Squads”, “Freikorps” - disrupted a peaceful rally in defense of the Russian language and Russian-language schools.
The radicals chanted Russophobic slogans, sprayed gas, and started a fight. Physical force was used even against elderly women. The police were inactive. There are no reports of those responsible for the riots being brought to justice. Another example. On January 30, in Dnepropetrovsk, thugs from the “National Corps” disrupted the opening of the international film festival “Film Assembly on the Dnieper,” the guests of which were directors and authors from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Russia, Serbia and Sweden,” the diplomat said.
“As President V. Zelensky said in one of his interviews, the language problem in Ukraine is “artificial.” Indeed, it was created by Maidan politicians for opportunistic purposes. While completely ignoring the interests of the Russian-speaking population and national minorities. And with the tacit approval of the West. This has already led to a bloody internal conflict in Donbass,” Lukashevich said.
He called on Kyiv to stop discrimination against the Russian-speaking population and national minorities, which runs counter to its international obligations, and the relevant government agencies and OSCE participating states to seek real steps from the Ukrainian authorities to rectify the very alarming situation in Ukraine.
The OSCE called on Ukraine to end linguistic terrorism.