Odesa to consider restrictions on Russian-language content
Deputies of the Odesa City Council in Ukraine will consider this week a proposal to stop the use of Russian-language content in music and literature in the city’s public spaces. The initiative would apply to streets, parks, public institutions, and state-run cultural and entertainment venues, BBC News reports.
The draft also recommends that private establishments, including shops and cafés, join such restrictions. The initiative would not affect everyday communication in Russian.
What changes are proposed
If the proposal is adopted, Russian-language songs, including works by Ukrainian performers, could not be played in public places. Ukraine already bans the public playing of songs by citizens of the Russian Federation, the aggressor state, except for certain artists who have publicly condemned the war.
The proposal also provides for removing from displays in public libraries all books in Russian. They are currently allowed to be displayed, but not in prominent places. The proposed rules are similar to regulations already in force in Kyiv and some other cities.
State-appointed language ombudswoman Anna Nerush said the council’s decision could also affect private businesses, although the draft does not provide for sanctions for failing to follow the recommendation. According to her, businesses interact with local authorities through premises leases, advertising permits, and other matters.
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Debate in the city
The initiative has sparked controversy in predominantly Russian-speaking Odesa. Lawyer Artem Kartashov, who advised local authorities on a decolonization program, considers the Russian language a tool of Russian influence. Actor Borys Barskyi, who runs the Masks Theatre, has spoken out against the restrictions.
Barskyi’s theatre has already been fined for violations of language legislation, including Russian-language advertising materials. During a subsequent inspection, violations were also found there, including a café sign with the Russian word “кава”.
A 2019 law requires the use of the Ukrainian language in many public and professional spheres, including education, services, and customer service. Employees must first address visitors in Ukrainian, but may switch to Russian at a customer’s request.
The level of support for the new proposal among deputies is currently unknown. It is opposed by an influential group of deputies linked to former mayor Hennadii Trukhanov.
