Russian Ombudsman Favors Common Language with Ukraine

The Russian Federation’s human rights ombudsman Oleg Mironov believes Ukraine has a problem with the Russian language, which, he is convinced, should be solved by way of “reciprocal agreement, without ultimatums.” “There are over 10 million Russians living in Ukraine, who are worried about the possibility of gaining education in schools and higher educational institutions in the Ukrainian language only. This problem does exist,” Mr. Mironov told Interfax-Ukraine. The Russian ombudsman noted, however, that “Russian nationals feel quite good in Ukraine.” He also favors the protection of Ukrainian nationals in Russia. “Unfortunately, there are problems with the Ukrainian citizens who come to the RF in search of work and find themselves underprivileged. This situation must change because Russia has already adopted the law On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens, as well as the law On Ethnic Cultural Autonomy, and the Ukrainians enjoy such autonomy in their densely populated areas,” the ombudsman emphasized. Mr. Mironov believes it necessary that a similar law on cultural autonomies be passed in Ukraine.