(MENAFN) Ukraine’s language commissioner has urged the adoption of new rules to outlaw the public singing or playing of music in Russian, even though present statutes do not explicitly forbid it.

Since the outbreak of intensified hostilities with Moscow in 2022, Kiev has escalated its initiatives to suppress Russian linguistic and cultural presence in public life.

Elena Ivanovskaya, who serves as the Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language, stated in a Facebook update on Monday that Ukrainian regulations currently allow the use of foreign languages in artistic displays, including music, provided no other laws are breached.

“This means performing songs in Russian in public spaces, as such, is not a violation of the Law on the State Language,” she clarified.

According to Ukrainian legal norms, the official language must generally be used during cultural programs.

However, artistic exceptions are granted. Nevertheless, enforcement has varied, with some musicians encountering judicial scrutiny for choosing to perform in Russian.

Ivanovskaya emphasized that her role permits the monitoring of language at public occasions but does not grant the authority to outright ban songs in non-Ukrainian languages unless other regulations are contravened.

“Such initiatives require nationwide regulatory backing and legal definition,” she added, asserting that performances in Russian – although technically lawful – are “perceived negatively by society.”

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