Ukraine: Luhansk oblast council reconfirms Russian language vote

Sat Jun 3 15:05:49 UTC 2006

 Luhansk oblast council reconfirms language vote despite protests

The Luhansk oblast council has voted to stand by its decision to grant
Russian regional language status despite a legal protest made by the
oblast prosecutor general and representatives of various political parties
and community organizations.

While voting was taking place, picketers from the Socialist, Rukh and the
UNP Peoples parties protested outside. The protestors said that language
policy is solely the prerogative of the Verkhovna Rada only. Also, Luhansk
oblast council, city council and a number of village councils in the
oblast have all voted to declare Luhansk oblast a NATO free zone.

http://5tv.com.ua/eng/newsline/179/0/26337/