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Claims by Russian Ambassador to Ukraine Viktor Chernomyrdin that schoolchildren in Ukraine do not have an opportunity to study in the Russian language of instruction “are untrue,” Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Vasyl KREMEN stated at a September 7 press conference in Kyiv. Over 25% pupils in Ukraine study in Russian, and everybody wanting to study Russian has every chance to do so. Quite the opposite, he stressed, “We cannot secure that in some regions separate subjects are taught in Ukrainian.” Commenting on Mr. Chernomyrdin’s opinion that Ukraine can have two state languages, Ukrainian and Russian, the minister spoke for preserving the current status of the Russian language.

Mr. Kremen also informed that the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine “did not, does not, and will not prepare any common textbooks” with any other country, since compiling textbooks in any subjects, especially in the humanities, is Ukraine’s internal affair. Simultaneously, according to ForUm, he noted that creating groups of historians from Ukraine and some other countries (in part, Russia and Poland) is a worthwhile initiative that could be extended to other countries.

When asked about his ministry’s attitude toward opposition protest actions planned for September, Mr. Kremen said, “We will not let this upset studies or organize actions in educational institutions.” The ministry will “firmly follow the law On Education,” he promised, stressing that outside the educational process “everybody can do whatever he/she likes”” including taking part in protest actions.