Is Russian Foreign Ministry Considering Commenting on Ukrainian Constitution?

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has voiced its serious concern over the stricter “administrative and other measures aimed against the preservation and development of the Russian language” in Ukraine.

People on Smolenskaya Square noted the Ukrainian Constitutional Court’s ruling of December 14, 1999, proclaiming Ukrainian “the compulsory language of instruction in all the government-run educational establishments of this country.” Languages used by ethnic minorities (Russian included) may be used if so allowed by the authorities.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry told Interfax on February 1 that this policy runs counter to the Constitution of Ukraine which guarantees the “free development, use, and protection of the Russian language” along with the right of citizens belonging to ethnic minorities to receive “education in the Russian language.”

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated that its Russian counterpart forwarded a note to the Ukrainian Embassy in Moscow on January 28 reading that “due to the worsening situation with the Russian language in Ukraine,” the Russian side hopes that the Ukrainian side will conduct its policy toward the Russian-speaking population of Ukraine in the spirit of the Agreement on Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership between Russia and Ukraine.