Institution of the ombudsman of a state language in Ukraine: Conditions, legal basis, activity

Abstract

Thirty years after Ukraine regained independence, in many areas of social life, Ukrainian as the state language is still ignored, eliminated or marginalized. The state status for this language in the Ukrainian Constitution of 1996 did not grant it such a function due to the post-colonial domination of the Russian language, the post-Soviet legacy of non-compliance with the law and impunity in breaking the law. The annexation of Crimea and Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine, under the pretext of defending the Russian-speaking population, made the ruling elite and Ukrainian citizens aware of the importance of the language issue for state security and conditioned the need for institutional and legal protection of the Ukrainian language as a state language. The establishment of the institution of the ombudsman of the state language has become a new element in the legal system of Ukraine. The ombudsman's activity in the field of controlling the use of the state language, its protection, functioning and development is an effective instrument for the implementation of the state's language policy. The legal protection of the Ukrainian language as a state language and the establishment of the institution of the linguistic ombudsman is received positively by the majority of Ukrainian society. Criticism from pro-Russian circles and the Russian government shows how important role the language issue plays in the hybrid war with Russia.