Language Inspectors in Ivano-Frankivsk – What is the Purpose of the Initiative?

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Language Inspectors
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On September 20, Russian media spread information claiming that 74 volunteers had already signed up to serve as language inspectors in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. A Russian-language article on nakanune.ru titled “Ivano-Frankivsk Fights Against the Russian Language” stated that the “language patrol” would ensure that people do not speak Russian in the city. Information about the “language inspectors” was also shared out of context by a Russian-language Facebook account.

Language Inspectors

It is worth noting that in May of this year, pro-Kremlin Georgian media outlet, Alt-Info, featured an analyst named Hamlet Chipashvili, who falsely claimed that Russian is banned in Ukraine and that speaking Russian can result in fines or even imprisonment.

Language Inspectors

This information is spread manipulatively, leaving the impression that speaking Russian in public spaces in Ivano-Frankivsk is prohibited, while on Alt-Info the false claim is made that speaking Russian is punishable. In reality, the language inspectors’ initiative aims to promote the Ukrainian language and does not involve punishing or imprisoning people for speaking Russian. According to Ukrainian law, the Ukrainian language is mandatory only in public institutions and does not apply to personal conversations outside of those spaces.

Indeed, a so-called “language patrol” has been established in Ivano-Frankivsk. The initiative was proposed by Ivano-Frankivsk’s mayor, Ruslan Martsinkiv, but it does not aim to punish or persecute Russian-speaking individuals. Its goal is to promote the Ukrainian language.

The initiative will monitor compliance with language legislation and promote the learning of Ukrainian, but the inspectors will not have the authority to punish violators. Ukraine’s language law regulates the use of the state language in the public sphere and does not apply to personal communication.

According to Martsinkiv, language inspectors will only offer advice on the use of the state language, and those who struggle to speak Ukrainian will be encouraged to take language courses.

The law on the state language in Ukraine was adopted in 2019. According to the law, the Ukrainian language must be used in public and municipal sectors, medical and transportation services, labeling of goods and services, arts, education, and the media.

The fact-checking platform StopFake verified this information. StopFake reports that the initiative was also addressed by Ukraine’s State Language Protection Commissioner, Taras Kremin. He stated that Ivano-Frankivsk was the only regional center without a language program, so the mayor has the right to create working groups to monitor compliance with language legislation. He also noted that Russian propaganda used the term “inspectors” to falsely suggest that Ukraine is persecuting citizens based on language.

In May of this year, StopFake also debunked disinformation claiming that the Russian language was banned in Ukraine and that linguistic genocide was taking place.


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Topic: Politics
Country: Ukraine
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