Language bill causes clashes in Ukraine
Source: Agencies |
July 5, 2012, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
OPPOSITION activists clashed with riot police in the center of the Ukrainian capital yesterday protesting a controversial bill that upgrades the status of the Russian language and which critics say would undermine the Ukrainian tongue.
The bill leaves Ukrainian as the only state language, but allows the use of Russian in Russian-speaking regions in courts, education and other government institutions. Members of the pro-Western opposition say the bill would effectively smother the Ukrainian tongue by removing any incentive for millions of Russian-speaking Ukrainians to learn and speak it. They also say it would bring Ukraine back into the Russian orbit and torpedo its efforts to forge closer ties with the European Union.
Lawmakers loyal to President Viktor Yanukovych, who draws his support from the Russian-speaking east and south, rushed the bill through parliament late Tuesday, without giving the opposition a chance to debate and protest it.
Parliament speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn insisted the vote was illegitimate and announced his resignation yesterday, along with a deputy parliament speaker. Seven national lawmakers announced a hunger strike.
"I have been fooled, Ukraine has been fooled, the people have been fooled," Lytvyn said.
Up to 2,000 protesters, some clad in traditional embroidered shirts, staged an angry protest against the bill outside a government building in the center of Kiev where Yanukovych was to hold an annual news conference. Black-clad riot police in shields and helmets moved in after the activists attempted to block the entrance to the building. Protesters hurled water bottles and sticks at the police and both sides used pepper-spray against each other.
Ambulances rushed to the scene to treat protesters and police who were injured in the clashes. Vitali Klitschko, the WBC heavyweight champion and also an opposition leader, was injured.
The bill leaves Ukrainian as the only state language, but allows the use of Russian in Russian-speaking regions in courts, education and other government institutions. Members of the pro-Western opposition say the bill would effectively smother the Ukrainian tongue by removing any incentive for millions of Russian-speaking Ukrainians to learn and speak it. They also say it would bring Ukraine back into the Russian orbit and torpedo its efforts to forge closer ties with the European Union.
Lawmakers loyal to President Viktor Yanukovych, who draws his support from the Russian-speaking east and south, rushed the bill through parliament late Tuesday, without giving the opposition a chance to debate and protest it.
Parliament speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn insisted the vote was illegitimate and announced his resignation yesterday, along with a deputy parliament speaker. Seven national lawmakers announced a hunger strike.
"I have been fooled, Ukraine has been fooled, the people have been fooled," Lytvyn said.
Up to 2,000 protesters, some clad in traditional embroidered shirts, staged an angry protest against the bill outside a government building in the center of Kiev where Yanukovych was to hold an annual news conference. Black-clad riot police in shields and helmets moved in after the activists attempted to block the entrance to the building. Protesters hurled water bottles and sticks at the police and both sides used pepper-spray against each other.
Ambulances rushed to the scene to treat protesters and police who were injured in the clashes. Vitali Klitschko, the WBC heavyweight champion and also an opposition leader, was injured.
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