Ukrainian parliament keeps law on languages in force

The Ukrainian parliament has declined the request of Speaker Vladimir Litvin on his resignation, RIA Novosti reports.

266 MPs voted against his resignation (he needed 226 votes). Litvin filed the resignation note as a protest against the passing of the bill on languages. The document expands the use of the Russian language. MPs refused to consider the speaker’s resignation note at the end of last week.

The opposition introduced four bills to scrap the law on languages. None of them got over 50 votes (226 were needed).

Litvin has been the Speaker of Parliament since December 9, 2008. He was also heading the parliament in 2002-2006.