Latest news with #UkrainianLaw
Russia Today
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Probe demanded into Ukrainian drag-artist who sang in Russian
Ukraine's language ombudsman has called for a police probe into a recent performance by renowned drag artist Verka Serduchka's in which the former Eurovision contestant performed several songs in Russian. Ukraine's language commissioner Taras Kremin cited possible violations of state law and a 2023 ban on public performances in Russian in calling for the probe. Some artists say the measures targeting use of Russian in public life, restrict cultural freedom. 'There are signs of a serious violation,' Kremin said Saturday, calling on police to investigate. 'It's not just about the law, but about national dignity. And there will be consequences.' Ukrainian law mandates the use of the state language at cultural events, though exceptions are allowed for other languages if deemed artistically justified. Enforcement has been uneven, with some artists facing legal pressure for using Russian. The Vera Serduchka persona is a drag act created by Ukrainian comedian Andrey Danilko. Serduchka's shows have been scrutinized before. Following a May 2024 concert featuring Russian songs, Kremin concluded thatno laws were broken but hoped such incidents would encourage the broader use of Ukrainian. Danilko has defended his use of Russian, calling it 'a tool for communication' and arguing it's hard to exclude in a bilingual society. In a 2024 interview with the Latvian broadcaster LTV, he said Ukraine's leadership aims to 'destroy the Russian language.' Kiev's 'Ukrainization' campaign is aimed at promoting Ukrainian in schools, media, and public life. Critics say it pressures artists and institutions to abandon Russian, which is still widely spoken across much of the country. In March, Kremin said many Ukrainians remain unsure which language they consider primary, noting a decline in Ukrainian use, especially in schools, and urged the Education Ministry to act. A significant portion of the population, particularly in eastern regions, speaks or understands both languages. The language debate has long divided Ukraine, contributing to tensions that led to the 2014 Western-backed Euromaidan coup. Since then, the government has curtailed Russian language rights and accelerated efforts to sever cultural ties with Moscow, especially after hostilities escalated in February 2022. Russia has consistently criticized Ukraine's language policies, asserting that they infringe upon the rights of the Russian-speaking population.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Yahoo
Ukraine's Supreme Court rules illegal mobilization not grounds for dismissal from military
The conscription of a person liable for military service during mobilization is irreversible, Ukraine's Supreme Court ruled on March 17, following a lawsuit by a serviceman who claimed he had been drafted illegally. The man claimed that the enlistment office's actions were unlawful because he had not undergone a medical examination before going to the military unit. According to the man, he was allegedly unfit for service. According to Ukrainian law, a conscript must undergo a medical examination before joining the army to determine whether they are fit for military service. The court of first instance found the actions of the enlistment office workers during conscription unlawful and ordered the military unit to discharge the conscript from service. The Appeal Court upheld the decision. However, the Supreme Court ruled that the military unit could not discharge the person liable for military service, as this went beyond the scope of the claim regarding the actions of the enlistment office during the conscription. According to the Supreme Court, the procedure for calling a person liable for military service during mobilization is irreversible. Recognition of the procedure of conscription as unlawful does not entail the restoration of the person's previous position. According to the statement, the claimant also violated Article 26 of the Ukrainian Law "On Military Duty and Military Service" by failing to undergo a medical examination There have been multiple cases of suspected abuses committed by enlistment officials toward civilians and conscripts since Ukraine started a large-scale mobilization after the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. Chernivtsi Oblast's police said on Feb. 7 that they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 32-year-old man at a regional military enlistment office. The incident follows reports on the deaths of conscripts allegedly caused by beatings at military enlistment offices. In June 2024, the Zhytomyr Oblast military enlistment office launched an investigation after Serhii Kovalchuk, 32, died following his stay at the Zviahel military enlistment office. Read also: Attacks on Ukraine's draft officers on the rise, fueled by social tension and Russian interference We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
