You're reading: Ukrainians in Australia indignant about passing of language bill, urge Yanukovych not to sign it

The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (CYOA) and the Ukrainian community in Australia have expressed deep indignation at the passing of the bill on the principles of the state language policy by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on July 3.

“The submission of the bill was aimed at splitting the people. The
arguments for its submission don’t meet any international standard.
These are arguments for a provocation,” reads the text of an open letter
from the Ukrainian community of Australia distributed on July 4.

Ukraine lacks in politicians that are ready to develop the country’s state policy, reads the letter.

“The president of Ukraine, who must protect the development of the
Ukrainian state, does not have other choice except for refusing to sign
the law,” reads the statement.

“The Ukrainian community in Australia is calling on the president to
intervene in this case and refuse to sign the law, as well as call on
the politicians that are unable to be Ukrainian politicians in the
Ukrainian state to resign immediately,” reads the letter.

As reported, on July 3 Verkhovna Rada by 248 votes passed the bill on
the principles of the state language policy significantly broadening
the use of Russian language.

The parliamentary opposition claims the language bill was passed on July 3 with multiple violations.