Language and identity in Ukraine
The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities has been engaged in Ukraine, including Crimea, since the office was established in 1993. In recent years, the High Commissioner has been concerned about rising inter-ethnic tensions in the country, particularly in Crimea, and closely followed the development of language legislation.
Language has long been a contentious issue in Ukraine, leading protesters to take to the streets and bringing international attention to the country. The question of how languages are used and by whom, whether by doctors, courts or teachers, has even prompted violence during debates in the Ukrainian parliament, so deeply does it play into issues of identity. With so much at stake, it’s often hard to be sure of the facts on the ground.
Statements by the High Commissioner and other news:
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities expressed satisfaction with outcomes of visit to Ukraine
6 October 2021
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities supports multilingual education pilot programme in four regions of Ukraine
24 February 2020
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities meets new government in Ukraine, discusses integration and minority-related issues
10 October 2019
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities briefs UN Security Council on the situation in Ukraine
16 July 2019
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities visits Ukraine, discusses minority issues in Kyiv and assesses inter-ethnic relations in Kherson region
14 September 2018
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities assesses inter-ethnic relations and education issues in Ukraine’s Zakarpattia region
8 February 2018
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities discusses language law and other national minority issues in Ukraine
13 December 2017
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities says he is actively engaged on education issues in Ukraine
9 October 2017
Ukraine’s language policy and multilingual education discussed at HCNM-supported conference in Kyiv
19 April 2017
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities discusses how to strengthen the inter-ethnic institutional framework in Ukraine
10 March 2016
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities assesses inter-ethnic situation in south-eastern Ukraine
10 November 2015
ODIHR and HCNM report identifies widespread human rights violations, discrimination and legal irregularities in Crimea
17 September 2015
Only by remembering past injustices can new ones be prevented
Speech commemorating 71st anniversary of the deportation of the Crimean Tatar people
18 May 2015
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Ukrainian authorities discuss human rights violations in Crimea
25 February 2015
Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev and High Commissioner on National Minorities meet in The Hague
31 January 2015
High Commissioner on National Minorities highlights access to education, situation in Crimea in her statement to OSCE Permanent Council
24 November 2014
High Commissioner on National Minorities addresses OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Autumn Meeting on Ukraine crisis
3 October 2014
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities welcomes efforts to improve inter-ethnic relations in Ukraine but remains concerned about situation in Crimea
19 September 2014
70 years since the Crimean Tatar Deportations
Speech commemorating 70th anniversary of the deportation of the Crimean Tatar people
18 May 2014
OSCE/ODIHR and HCNM release report by Human Rights Assessment Mission in Ukraine
12 May 2014
Statement by the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities on her recent visits to Ukraine
4 April 2014
Developing situation in Crimea alarming, says OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities
6 March 2014
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities on urgent mission to Ukraine
3 March 2014
Restraint, responsibility and dialogue needed in Ukraine, including Crimea, says OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities
24 February 2014
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities urges dialogue and compromise on ‘divisive’ language law in Ukraine
26 July 2012