Summary of the Analysis of the Law of Ukraine “On Ensuring The Functioning of Ukrainian as the State Language”
This review provides an analysis of the adopted version of the Law of Ukraine “On ensuring the functioning of Ukrainian as the state language” No. 2704-VIII from April 25, 2019 (the law or the language law) based on international human rights standards and the Constitution of Ukraine. It does not assess the expedience or feasibility of implementing the law’s provisions.
While the law is, without a doubt, the best “language law” in Ukraine’s history, it has many significant downsides that this analysis focuses on. If these downsides are not rectified, the law’s positive aspects would be substantially diminished or eliminated. We encourage lawmakers’ to acknowledge the law’s conflict with human rights standards and amend the law, thus depriving the law’s opponents within and outside Ukraine of their case.