Lawmaker Urges Parliament to Remove Russian Language Mention from Ukraine’s Constitution

Mykhailo Kosiv’s Appeal to the Verkhovna Rada

According to Главком: A former political prisoner and five-time member of Ukraine’s parliament, Mykhailo Kosiv, has called on the current 9th convocation of the Verkhovna Rada to strike any reference to the Russian language from the country’s Constitution. Speaking out, he argued that the lingering pro-Moscow attitudes of the 2nd convocation of the Rada continue to shape national legislation and must be corrected. Kosiv also recalled a debate from three decades ago concerning the wording of Article 10 of the Constitution.

Kosiv proposed that Article 10 should read: 'Ukraine guarantees the free development, use, and protection of the languages of national minorities.' However, the pro-communist majority at the time pushed through a different version: 'Ukraine guarantees the free development, use, and protection of Russian and other languages of national minorities of Ukraine.' The dispute over the phrasing of Article 10 then moved to the Presidium of the Verkhovna Rada, where Mykola Bahrov, head of a deputy group from Crimea, set a condition: a vote on the Article 10 wording in exchange for the People’s Movement’s support for the section on the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Vyacheslav Chornovil agreed to this deal but also demanded the inclusion of Ukrainian national symbols.

“Can you imagine? This formulation implies that Russian is not included among the languages of national minorities-it appears as a separate, somewhat privileged language above the others!”

Mykhailo Kosiv

Believing the time for change has come, he urged: “Today, I am convinced, the moment has arrived for the 9th convocation of the Verkhovna Rada to rectify the pro-Moscow biases of the 2nd convocation-to immediately remove the mention of the Russian language from the Constitution of Ukraine.”

30th Anniversary of Ukraine’s Constitution

On June 28, 2026, Ukraine will mark the 30th anniversary of the adoption of its Constitution. To commemorate the occasion, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy extended greetings to citizens on Constitution Day, noting that 'exactly 30 years ago, the Fundamental Law of our state was adopted, and it is given strength by Ukrainian men and women.' He emphasized that it is the Ukrainian people who bring the Constitution to life through their actions and their fight for the country’s independence.

Kosiv’s remarks highlight the ongoing debates over language policy in Ukraine, which profoundly shape national identity and cultural relations within society. As the country approaches the 30th anniversary of its Constitution, these issues become even more pressing, as Ukraine continues to seek a balance between protecting minority rights and asserting its statehood. Amending the Constitution could represent a significant step toward crafting a language policy that reflects the modern realities and challenges facing Ukraine.

As discussions around the constitutional language intensify, it's essential to reflect on the broader implications of Ukraine’s legal framework. Over the past thirty years, the Constitution has evolved to safeguard the rights of all citizens. To understand the significance of these changes, explore how the Constitution has shaped individual freedoms and national identity throughout its history in our detailed analysis of three decades of Ukraine's Constitution.