Hidden Russian
Published: 12 October, 2009, 11:50
Edited: 17 February, 2010, 14:38
TAGS: Conflict, Ukraine, Politics, Yushchenko, Law
Ahead of Viktor Yushchenko’s visit to the Ukrainian city of Zaporozhye, the local administration has made sure that all signs in Russian were hidden from the President’s eyes.
Billboards containing ads in Russian were plastered with white paper, banners simply taken down and shop signs covered with opaque fabric. Unfortunately, Yushchenko’s visit fell on a windy day. The wind lifted some of the draping, revealing words in Russian.
The decision that draped facades look more decent than signs in Russian came after Yushchenko’s complaint to the local administration during his previous visit.
The Ukrainian President had pointed out that the city authorities should fight against the dominance of Russian-language advertisements in the streets.
 image from www.unian.net |
A recent decision by Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko and her cabinet of ministers to ban school teachers from speaking Russian has sparked major controversy throughout the country.
Schoolchildren as young as eleven can report their teachers to authorities if they hear them speak Russian anywhere on the school premises.
While the authorities continue their battle for the Ukrainian language, Russian still remains a widely-spoken language in the country. There are regular protests calling to recognize Russian as a second official language.
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5 comments
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4 comments
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I am of Ukrainian descent, living in Australia. My family was taken by Nazis and resttled in Australia to avoid communism. Ukrainian Kozak pride and spirit is stronger than Russian, and we have a right to preserve our Language and customs. In Australia the Ukrainian community still has traditional Kozak dance , songs and coooking. Russian community does not exist and is more western. We are the true Rus! Our Language is more beautiful and harmonic. Russian Language become coarse after Siberian exploration made men brutal and harsh.
And remember, this is the very anti-Russian stance that the EU and US is actively supporting. A tolerant muti racial stance, as long as it doesn't include Russian. That is why we need wake up here and realise the EU and US agenda, which is basically the iradication of all things Russian. We don't need be sitting inside western based organisations, hell bent of our destruction, not unless we want to be directing our own demise. We need be outside with a well defined working interface. The behaviour shown here with regard to the Russian language is unacceptable, it would be in any civilised country. But true to western values, we see again fine words and evil deeds. That is the hallmark of the west! The Western Hypocracy!
The law is pro-Ukrainian, not anti-Russian! Other languages were not to be spoken either, right? Every nation has to give its national language its proper place. If you want to find some eradication and intolerance, look for Ukrainian language schools for the millions of Ukrainians in Russia! Is there even one?