Today, August 4, during a working visit to Odesa the State Language Protection Commissioner Taras Kremin held a meeting with the leadership of the Odesa region  - the head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration Maksym Marchenko and the head of the Odesa Regional Council Hryhoriy Didenko.

At the meeting, the Commissioner emphasized the importance of compliance with the Law "On Ensuring the Functioning of Ukrainian as the State Language" in the conditions of martial law, and also informed about the new stage of implementation of the Language Law, which began on July 16, 2022 and provides for the use of the Ukrainian language on the Internet and in computer interfaces computer programs of goods.

After February 24, the understanding of the importance of observing the Language Law in the region changed significantly. Today, every conscious citizen feels that language is the basis of our national identity and national security. And the linguistic front is one of the key areas in this war. That is why Odessans, defending their constitutional right to receive information and services in the state language, demand compliance with language legislation from representatives of state authorities and local self-government," Taras Kremin emphasized.

According to the Commissioner, the level of compliance with language legislation has improved in Odesa and the region over the past year, although violations by officials continue to be recorded.

During the meeting, the parties agreed to develop and approve a targeted regional program to support the state language and expand the network of free language courses. Let’s remind that according to the information collected on the official website of the Commissioner, today there are 14 conversation courses and clubs in Odesa and the region that help everyone who wants to learn the language.

"At the same time, given the high level of overpopulation in the region and the significant number of temporarily displaced persons who have found refuge in different parts of the Odesa region, this number of initiatives is insufficient. In view of this, state and local self-government bodies should strengthen work on building a network of courses and conversation clubs for mastering the state language. The adoption of a regional program for the promotion and development of the Ukrainian language as a state language will be helpful in this matter," Taras Kremin emphasized.

As part of the meeting, Taras Kremin introduced the representative of the Commissioner for the South of the country – Mrs. Yaroslava Vitko-Prysiazhniuk to the leaders of the Odesa region.