MP fined for Russian-language advertising

Member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Feldman was fined 5100 hryvnias for spreading paid advertising in Russian on social networks. This was reported by Olena Ivanytska, the Ombudsperson for the Protection of State Language, according to Hlavkom.

The basis for the check was a complaint from the public movement “Chesno.” Its representatives addressed the Secretariat of the Ombudsperson with a complaint about targeted promotional posts by Feldman, which he distributed from his page on the Meta platform.

Information about the advertiser, the content of the materials, the period of display, advertising costs, and the geography of the impressions were recorded using Meta Ad Library – an online database of advertisements on social networks.

According to the results of state control, the Ombudsperson’s representative Ihor Spiridonov identified a violation of part one of article 32 of the law “On ensuring the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the state language.” This provision determines that the language of advertising in Ukraine is the state language.

An administrative protocol was drawn up on the fact of the violation. After reviewing the case, Olena Ivanytska issued a decision to impose a fine on Feldman in the amount of 5100 hryvnias.

“The requirements of the legislation regarding the language of advertising in Ukraine are the same regardless of the social or official status of the person,” Ivanytska emphasized.

At the same time, a similar fine was issued to the head of the public organization “Peace. Development. Stability” Roman Zahorodniy. According to the Ombudsperson, this organization spread Russian-language ads on Meta in favor of Member of Parliament Yurii Boyko, who is one of the participants in the public association.

It is worth recalling that parents of students may face fines for using the Russian language during communication in school chats if such communication concerns organizing the educational process.