Language Ombudsman has started inspecting taxis: fines for refusing to communicate in Ukrainian

Incident in Kharkiv due to taxi driver's refusal to serve a passenger in the state language

Olena Ivanovska, who is responsible for the protection of the state language, commented on the situation that occurred in Kharkiv, where a taxi driver refused to speak with a passenger in Ukrainian. According to her, the taxi driver violated the law because, according to Article 36 of the Law on the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language, services in transport must be provided in the state language.

“In addition to refusing to serve in Ukrainian and turning off Russian music, the taxi driver was spewing theses from Kremlin pamphlets, particularly regarding the 'oppression of the rights of Russian speakers.'

Ivanovska intends to conduct a state inspection in connection with this case and will turn to the police and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). She also called on taxi services to check drivers for knowledge of the state language and to respond promptly to passenger complaints. Violations of the language law can be reported through the electronic form on the website mova-ombudsman.gov.ua.

The representative of the authorized person for the protection of the state language has taken responsibility and plans to take action against the taxi driver who violated language rules, and also calls on all citizens to report similar cases of violations of language legislation.