Constitutional Court considers language law tomorrow: ombudsperson for language protection called on the court to show a state position

"I appeal to the judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine to show a state stance and decide in favor of Ukraine's national interests. The issue of language is fundamental for our state to strengthen Ukraine's independence, identity, unity, and victory," Kremin said.

He noted that the law on the state language is fully in line with the Constitution. In particular, the document exclusively regulates the use of the state language in public spheres, clearly defined in law, and is aimed primarily at protecting the right of citizens to use, receive services, interact with the state/local governments in the state language.

Kremin added that a significant part of the law actually duplicates or clarifies the legal norms that have been in force and applied in Ukraine for a long time. In particular, it applies to citizens' appeals, consumer protection, film screenings, requirements for proficiency in the state language for civil service positions, office work, document management, government websites, etc.

"So, to a large extent, the law doesn't introduce new requirements and procedures, but only fixes the status quo," the language ombudsman said.

Kremin also reminded that some of these norms, which duplicate the norms of other laws, have already been actually assessed by the CCU.

"First, it concerned the "educational" article, which the submission authors put special emphasis on. This article of the Law of Ukraine "On Ensuring the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language" actually duplicates the norms of the Law "On Education" which the CCU recognized as constitutional.

According to the language ombudsman, today over 95% of Ukrainians recognize the leading place of the Ukrainian language as the state language.

"It confirms that the issue of a single state language unites Ukrainians, not divides them, as they are trying to impose on us from the outside. However, in a hybrid war, including on the information and language fronts, we still see initiatives of individual politicians who care about their own ratings, not the country," he said.