Ukrainian President Signs Controversial Language Bill Into Law
By RFE/RL
Ukraine's president has signed into law a controversial bill that makes Ukrainian the required language of study in state schools from the fifth grade on.
Petro Poroshenko signed the measure on September 25 after days of criticism, particularly from Ukraine’s ethnic minorities.
The bill does not outlaw other language instructions. Students can still learn their native languages as a separate subject.
ALSO READ: Ukrainian Language Bill Facing Barrage Of Criticism From Minorities, Foreign Capitals
But that hasn’t assuaged the fears of groups, such as Poles, Romanians, and Hungarians, all of whom have sizable ethnic communities in Ukraine.
Russia has been particularly vociferous in its criticism and asserted this month that the law was designed to "forcefully establish a mono-ethnic language regime in a multinational state."
Poroshenko in signing the bill insisted that it "is in harmony with European standards and is an example for neighboring countries," according to a statement on the presidential website.
"The law raises the role of Ukrainian as a state language in the education process," he said. "The law ensures equal opportunities for all...It guarantees every graduate strong language skills essential for a successful career in Ukraine."
Language has become a hot-button issue across the country, particularly in the eastern regions where the majority of the population speaks Russian as its first language.
The bill's language requirement overturns a 2012 law passed under Moscow-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych, who fled to Russia two years later amid mass street protests.
That legislation allowed for minorities to introduce their languages in regions where they represented more than 10 percent of the population.
With reporting by AFP
U.S. Condemns Conviction Of RFE/RL Journalist Semena In Russia-Occupied Crimea
By RFE/RL
The United States on September 25 said it is "deeply troubled" by the conviction of RFE/RL journalist Mykola Semena by a court in Russia-occupied Crimea last week.
The court convicted Semena, 66, on separatism charges and handed down a 2 1/2-year suspended sentence and a ban on future journalistic activity.
"This conviction was based on the fact that Mr. Semena had criticized Russia’s occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea in his writing," U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.
"We call on the Russian occupation authorities to vacate Mr. Semena's conviction, allow him to resume his journalistic activity, and cease their campaign to stifle dissent in Crimea," she said.
"Crimea remains an integral part of Ukraine, and the United States remains steadfast in its support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine," she said.
Semena, a contributor to RFE/RL's Krym.Realii (Crimea Realities), was arrested on April 19, 2016, by Russia-imposed authorities and charged with acting against the “territorial integrity of the Russian Federation.’’
Semena says the accusation is politically motivated and that Russian authorities based their case on an inaccurate translation of one of his stories from Ukrainian into Russian.
The European Union and human rights groups have also expressed concern over the case.