Taxi drivers risk paying up to UAH 5100 for violating the language law
5 September 09:57
Taxi drivers who refuse to communicate with passengers in the state language may be fined up to UAH 5100. This was reported by Olena Ivanovska, the Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language, on Facebook, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
She said that recently in Kharkiv there was a conflict between a taxi passenger and a driver who refused to serve her in the state language in a “rude and disrespectful manner.”
“The video that was posted on social media and the citizen’s complaint contain a whole “bouquet”. In addition to refusing to serve in Ukrainian and turning off Russian music, the taxi driver spouted theses from the Kremlin’s manuals, including “infringement of the rights of Russian speakers.” I decided to launch state control measures. At the same time, we are preparing an appeal to the National Police and the Security Service of Ukraine to take appropriate measures on their part,” she said.
According to the language ombudsman, the driver from Kharkiv “will not be able to avoid punishment.”
Ivanovska explained that the taxi driver, by refusing to serve the passenger in Ukrainian, violated the requirements of Article 36 of the Law of Ukraine “On Ensuring the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language.” According to it, the language of service for passengers in transport is the state language.
The Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses provides that violation of the language law in terms of the use of the state language in the field of customer service is punishable by a fine of 200 to 300 tax-free minimum incomes, the language ombudsman noted.
“As of today, this amount is UAH 3,400-5,100,” Ivanovska emphasized.
She said that she has appealed to taxi services to thoroughly check drivers for knowledge of the state language, to be attentive to passengers’ complaints and to take prompt response measures.
Citizens can report violations of the language law through an electronic form on the website of the Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language.
