KIEV, August 10 (RIA Novosti)-A law granting the Russian language official status in about half of Ukraine's regions came into force on Friday after being published in the Ukrainian parliament's Voice of Ukraine newspaper.

file photo
The law allows the parliament, government, and other legislative and executive bodies to publish their decisions in the regional language, and enables TV companies to broadcast in that language.

The authors of the law maintain that it preserves the status of Ukrainian as the only state language.

President Viktor Yanukovych signed the bill ­ which has triggered a storm of protests from the opposition ­ into law on Wednesday. The Supreme Rada passed the bill on July 3.

The opposition said on Thursday it would hold "open sessions" at local legislatures across Ukraine to consider blocking the implementation of the law.

Language is a contentious issue in Ukraine, where roughly half the country claims to be Russian-speaking, but where Ukrainian is the only official language and is predominant in the west of the country.

Russian is still used in much of Ukraine, especially in the east, Crimea and Kiev, and there is a strong movement to protect the rights of Russian speakers.

The Rada's passing of the bill sparked violent clashes between police and protesters in downtown Kiev. Critics say the bill was rushed through parliament unconstitutionally by the ruling Party of Regions to score political points with President Yanukovych's Russian-speaking support base.

Opposition members unsuccessfully introduced four different draft resolutions aimed at abolishing the bill.

Earlier this week, Yanukovych met with members of Ukrainian intelligentsia at his Crimean residence to discuss the language issue. During the meeting, he stressed that measures should be taken to ensure that the new law does not restrict the rights of Ukrainian-speakers.

Keywords: Russia, Ukraine - Russian News - Russia - Johnson's Russia List

KIEV, August 10 (RIA Novosti)-A law granting the Russian language official status in about half of Ukraine's regions came into force on Friday after being published in the Ukrainian parliament's Voice of Ukraine newspaper.

file photo
The law allows the parliament, government, and other legislative and executive bodies to publish their decisions in the regional language, and enables TV companies to broadcast in that language.

The authors of the law maintain that it preserves the status of Ukrainian as the only state language.

President Viktor Yanukovych signed the bill ­ which has triggered a storm of protests from the opposition ­ into law on Wednesday. The Supreme Rada passed the bill on July 3.

The opposition said on Thursday it would hold "open sessions" at local legislatures across Ukraine to consider blocking the implementation of the law.

Language is a contentious issue in Ukraine, where roughly half the country claims to be Russian-speaking, but where Ukrainian is the only official language and is predominant in the west of the country.

Russian is still used in much of Ukraine, especially in the east, Crimea and Kiev, and there is a strong movement to protect the rights of Russian speakers.

The Rada's passing of the bill sparked violent clashes between police and protesters in downtown Kiev. Critics say the bill was rushed through parliament unconstitutionally by the ruling Party of Regions to score political points with President Yanukovych's Russian-speaking support base.

Opposition members unsuccessfully introduced four different draft resolutions aimed at abolishing the bill.

Earlier this week, Yanukovych met with members of Ukrainian intelligentsia at his Crimean residence to discuss the language issue. During the meeting, he stressed that measures should be taken to ensure that the new law does not restrict the rights of Ukrainian-speakers.