On 25 April 2019, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine finally adopted the Law of Ukraine "On Ensuring the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language", which is known for its numerous amendments. What is this law and how will it affect the life of society?
The legislative act proposes to introduce the widespread use of the state language in names, to define the standards of the state language and to regulate its protection. First of all, the Law re-affirms the provisions of the Constitution of Ukraine (Article 10) in terms of defining the Ukrainian language as the only state language. At the same time, he imposes an obligation on citizens of Ukraine to know the state language as the language of their citizenship (Article 6 of the Law) and the obligation to know it in order to acquire Ukrainian citizenship (Article 7 of the Law).
Accordingly, the Law enshrines the need for knowledge and use of the Ukrainian language by all persons in the performance of their official duties in public authorities, local governments, courts, institutions, law enforcement agencies, state enterprises and organizations, etc. The Law also does not leave aside persons who are in contact with representatives of the state - lawyers and notaries.
It is worth noting that the provisions of the Law also apply to the public-private sphere of life, which is not relate to the state - culture, education, science, television and radio broadcasting, media.
From the general list of regulated areas, it is necessary to focus on the service area and the area of user interfaces of computer programs and websites. The Law did not bypass these areas and obliged (with a corresponding delay in the entry into force of certain provisions of the Law) to apply the Ukrainian language, in particular in mobile applications and programs, Internet sites, journalistic and informational Internet publications, etc.
At the same time, the Law does not extend its effect to private communication and religious rites, which is specifically provided in paragraph 1 of the Law. Article 2, paragraph 2, of the Act.
Deiak Law Firm is multi-lingual company, but first of all we provide quality and timely legal services exclusively using the Ukrainian language.
