State Duma criticizes decision to abolish regional status of Russian language in Ukraine
MOSCOW. Feb 24 (Interfax) - Leonid Slutsky, the head of a state Duma committee, said Russia should come up with its own set of measures and proposals in connection with the Ukrainian parliament's decision to strip the Russian language of its regional status.
"The abolition of the regional status of the Russian language is a negative signal. It may narrow the Russian-language space in Ukraine, including the educational space," Slutsky told reporters on Sunday.
Slutsky said this decision necessitates "practical cooperation with every family in Ukraine that does not want to be torn away from the Russian language and the Russian world so that the children in these families can be educated and speak in Russian."
"It is now too early to speak about specific steps in this direction," the parliamentarian said, adding that a decision on these steps will be made in the next few days.
Slutsky also said he is hoping that "a step back," i.e., a return to the Russian language of its previous status in Ukraine, is still possible.
"As to this situation, I can say that they are doing everything to tear Ukraine from Russia, including using the language factor, the possibility of the younger generation speaking and being educated in the Russian language," he said.
Slutsky said he believes that it is a consequence of the current geopolitical and civilization conflict.
"However, I hope that this negative step will not complicate our cooperation with the future coalition government of Ukraine, and this cooperation will, no doubt, be in Russian," he said.