Taras Kremin, Ukraine state language ombudsman claimed that stripping it of state privileges in occupied Donbas and illegally annexed Crimea makes a violation of human rights. He said so in the interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
"The language-related legal framework in Donbas was canceled in the occupied territories of Ukraine; thus, Ukrainian language was deprived on the language status. It's not just a primitive imitation of procedures of so-called legal action of the occupant authority. It's a violation of human rights, and the PACE MPs and OSCE High Commissioner have been informed about it", Kremin said.
The official expressed hope that the information collected by himself and Ombudsman Lyudmyla Denisova will become the basis of his annual report in 2021. Kremin also hopes that the report will be spread all over the world.
"Crimea and Donbas are Ukraine, and people who live there are Ukrainians. They cannot be separated - in particular, in terms of language policy", Kremin said. Replying to the question how should the language policy be conducted after de-occupation of Crimea and Donbas, he said that children who reside in the occupied areas should enjoy a better access to Ukrainian education.
In June, the self-styled "People's Council" of so-called Luhansk People's Republic passed the amendment to the "Constitution", depriving Ukrainian language of the national status. The same move was made in the so-called Donetsk People's Republic, in March 2020.
