The language bill, which hasn’t been signed by president Viktor Yanukovych yet but has been approved by parliament, caused mass protests in Kyiv, with activists clashing with the police, raising the question of Ukrainian sovereignty and its pro-Russian direction, according to Forbes report.
Ukrainian vs. Russian Language
Forbes: Language as a weapon of mass distraction
The paradox of today's Ukraine is that it seems like the language issue doesn't bother Ukrainian people as much as it rankles politicians.
The recent move by the Ukrainian parliament allowing Russian to be used in courts, educational institutions, and other official venues in Russian-speaking regions is not only controversial because the vote was rushed through without giving the opposition a chance to have its say, but was also insulting to a country that is already struggling with its national identity and a cultural divide, Katya Soldak wrote in a Forbes report.
