Courts to continue to use Ukrainian, says Yanukovych deputy chief of staff

“Litigation in Ukraine is to be carried out in Ukrainian, this is what the law prescribes. As regards national minorities and persons not knowing Ukrainian, they are entitled to speak the language they know, with the court ensuring that their testimony is translated professionally into Ukrainian,” Portnov said.

“However, a judge is to conduct hearings in Ukrainian. All the court documents are also to be made out in Ukrainian,” he added.

Earlier, the media were full of reports that the new law allows for the use of regional languages in courts.

“The Ukrainian law is ambiguous on the use of languages in court. In criminal cases a specific court is to decide which language to use. But in civil cases the use of Ukrainian is mandatory. Now, the criminal courts procedure will be applied,” says BYuT lawmaker Svyatoslav Olijnyk .