Ukraine’s Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, voted on Monday against repeal of a controversial bill granting Russian language official status in about half of Ukraine’s regions.
Opposition members unsuccessfully introduced four different draft resolutions aimed at abolishing the Rada's July 3 approval of the bill, which critics say was rushed through the Rada unconstitutionally by the ruling Party of Regions to score political point with President Viktor Yanukovich’s Russian-speaking support base.
The Rada also voted against the resignation of its Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn, who stalled the passage of the original language bill by refusing to sign it into law. Lytvyn tendered his resignation on July 4 in protest.
The bill requires the signature of both the parliament speaker and the president to become law. Today’s extraordinary session of Parliament, which had gone on recess earlier this month until September, provided another opportunity for Lytvyn to sign the legislation.
Language is a contentious issue in Ukraine, where roughly half the country claims to be Russian-speaking, but where Ukrainian is the only official language and is predominant in the west of the country.
The Rada’s passing of the bill in early July sparked violent clashes between the authorities and protesters in downtown Kiev.
