Ukraine's parliament has adopted a law guaranteeing education in the languages of national minorities and indigenous peoples whose languages are official languages of the European Union.
Lawmakers approved Bill No. 16119 during a plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada, according to the parliamentary broadcast.
The bill received 273 votes in favour and one against in its first reading, while 266 MPs supported its final adoption, with two voting against. Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk was instructed to sign the legislation immediately and forward it to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The law guarantees children belonging to eligible national minorities and indigenous peoples the right to receive education in their native language alongside Ukrainian, the state language.
Under the legislation, schools where more than 50% of pupils study in the relevant minority language may be granted the status of a national minority educational institution.
In such schools, official education certificates and their supplements may be issued in both Ukrainian and the relevant minority language at the request of parents.
Administrative documents, signs and other public information may also be duplicated in minority languages.
Educational programmes at these institutions may include the study of national history, the preservation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage associated with national identity, and the promotion of national traditions, symbols and customs.
The rights of Ukraine's Hungarian minority have long been a key issue for Budapest. The legislation was drafted with the participation of Hungarian officials and incorporated their feedback.
