MOSCOW, January 13 – RIA Novosti. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov has sued Ukrainian language ombudsman Taras Kremin for repeated fines for using Russian, Ukrainian media reported.

As reported by Kremin, in November 2022 Terekhov was fined for using Russian during a speech on the broadcast of the Ukrainian national telethon. Later, he gave Terekhov a “warning” that the social pages of the mayor of Kharkov were also not made in Russian, that is, in the state language. Then Terekhov said that in an official setting he will use Ukrainian, but in communication with residents of Kharkiv he will continue to use Russian, since 80% of the townspeople speak it.

Ukrainian edition Suspilne (Public) states on its website, “Kharkov Mayor Igor Terekhov has sued the State Commissar for the Protection of the Language for repeated fines for violating the language law.” mayor’s office, Yuriy Sidorenko. It was noted that the mayor of Kharkiv confirmed the direction of the case brought before the court, but noted that Terekhov acted not as the mayor, but as a private person.

“Suspilne” reported that it was able to receive a comment from the State Commissioner for the Protection of Language. Confirming that a lawsuit has been filed against him, Kremin announced that Terekhov was given a second fine for using Russian on his Telegram channel and social network page.

“Due to the continuing realities of out-of-state (language – ed.) use, we considered the case, offered to make statements, personally or a representative, to come to a lawyer to consider this case. No response. Therefore, it was decided to impose a fine” – language to the publication gives the ombudsman’s argument.

The Verkhovna Rada adopted the law “On ensuring the functioning of the Ukrainian language as a state language” on April 25, 2019. The document implies that citizens should use the national language in all aspects of life. For violation of this law, an administrative fine is provided in the form of a fine of 3,400 hryvnia ($92).