Ukrainian organizations in the Czech Republic are calling on their compatriots around the world to unite in order to protect the Ukrainian language.
“We have to protect our language, as well as our Ukrainian state and
Ukrainian people,” Ukrainian organizations in the Czech Republic said in
an appeal to Ukrainians living abroad in connection with the signing of
the language law by President Viktor Yanukovych, which was posted on
the Web site of the Ukrainian European Perspective on Thursday.
The appeal notes that the law is anti-Ukrainian in nature.
“Gross violations of the constitution have become common for the
current Ukrainian authorities. This law is not competent. It’s a spit in
the face of all Ukrainians living in Ukraine and abroad. Today Ukraine
has been branded by Yanukovych – no language – no state,” reads the
appeal.
The appeal also notes that this law is a “pre-election gimmick, the
desire of the government to hide its own mistakes and failures in both
domestic and foreign policy.”
“The Ukrainian state should have the only official language –
Ukrainian … The introduction of a second official language is a crime
against Ukraine, a crime against the nation. It’s a crime against
history and against the people,” reads the appeal.
As reported, on August 8, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych
signed the law on principles of state language policy and also
instructed the Cabinet of Ministers to set up a working group to develop
proposals to improve legislation on the mechanism for the use of
languages in Ukraine.
