Taxi Driver Fined in Kharkiv for Disrespectful Refusal to Speak Ukrainian to Passenger
A recent incident in Kharkiv has once again highlighted the importance of adhering to Ukraine’s legislation regarding the state language.
A taxi driver was fined 5,100 hryvnias for knowingly refusing to politely communicate in Ukrainian with a passenger and displaying rudeness.
The decision was made by Olena Ivanovska, the authorized representative for the protection of the state language, who stated that this case exemplifies a violation of language laws.
She also appealed to law enforcement agencies, including police and SBU, urging action against the offender.According to Ivanovska, the driver has been permanently barred from accessing the taxi platform, and all drivers received updated instructions to operate exclusively in Ukrainian when serving passengers.
She emphasized that such acts often carry ideological motives and could potentially be signs of justifying aggressive state actions.
A similar incident was reported in Odesa, where a driver was fined 3,400 hryvnias.
Ukrainian legislation stipulates that Ukrainian is the official language of service in all types of passenger transport, and violations may result in administrative penalties.
Ivanovska concluded that disrespectful attitude towards the Ukrainian language and national symbols is unacceptable and must be sanctioned to preserve the country’s cultural and linguistic unity.