Members of the State Duma condemn actions of Ukrainian authorities against Russian-speaking citizens

Members of the State Duma considers it inadmissible to ban and persecute Russian and other languages used in Ukraine under the pretext of protecting the state Ukrainian language
plenary meeting voting

Members of the State Duma adopted at a plenary meeting a resolution on the statement of the State Duma “On violation of fundamental human rights in Ukraine in connection with new bans on the use of the Russian language.”

“The State Duma, respecting fundamental human rights and reaffirming the commitment to the norms of international law, expresses deep concern over the new persecution of the Russian language in Ukraine, as the new norms prohibiting its use have entered into force,” the document said.

As the parliamentarians recalled, the relevant language law had been adopted when Petro Poroshenko was the President of Ukraine.

“The legislative and law enforcement practices of the Ukrainian authorities contradict the Constitution of Ukraine, guarantying “the free development, use and protection of the Russian language,” stressed the members of the State Duma.

“The State Duma consider it inadmissible to ban and persecute Russian and other languages used in Ukraine under the pretext of protecting the state Ukrainian language. Members of the State Duma urge the Ukrainian authorities to stop using such pernicious practice and expect that the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Council of Europe, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and representatives of world parliaments would also condemn such actions,” the statement said.