A group of Ukrainian parliamentary deputies has proposed a law changing the official status of the Russian language in the country.
The draft law seeks to codify the right of Ukrainians to decide what language their children are taught in at school, and also remove Ukrainian as the sole language of the courts.
The arrival in power last February of President Viktor Yanukovych, who himself is from a Russian-speaking background, raised hopes among many Russian-speakers that he would put their language on a par with Ukrainian.
Around 30 percent of Ukraine's 47 million population are Russian speakers.
compiled from agency reports
The draft law seeks to codify the right of Ukrainians to decide what language their children are taught in at school, and also remove Ukrainian as the sole language of the courts.
The arrival in power last February of President Viktor Yanukovych, who himself is from a Russian-speaking background, raised hopes among many Russian-speakers that he would put their language on a par with Ukrainian.
Around 30 percent of Ukraine's 47 million population are Russian speakers.
compiled from agency reports