Originally from The Journal of Eurasian Law (JEL)

LAW OF UKRAINE
“ON PRINCIPLES OF THE
STATE LANGUAGE POLICY”*

Law No. 5029-VI

Approved by the Supreme Council of Ukraine1 at the first reading on June 5, 2012
Approved at the second reading on July 3, 2012
Signed by the Chairman of the Supreme Council of Ukraine on July 31, 2012
Signed by the President of Ukraine on August 8, 2012

In accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of Ukraine, the Declaration of the Rights of Nationalities, the Law of Ukraine “On Ratification of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages,” etc.

Considering that the free use of languages in private and public life in accordance with the principles declared by the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and in the spirit of the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, is an inalienable right of every person;

stressing the importance of strengthening the status of the state-Ukrainian language as one of the crucial factors of the national identity of the Ukrainian people and a guarantee of its national-state sovereignty;

proceeding from the assumption that only the free development and equality of all national languages and high language culture form the basis for mutual understanding, cultural mutual enrichment, and the consolidation of society;

this Law determines the principles of the state language policy in Ukraine.