Zelensky’s Top Aide Budanov to Be Fined for Speaking Russian at Protest Near Alleged Azov Black Site
Moscow, The Gulf Observer: Kirill Budanov, a top aide to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, will be fined after admitting that he spoke Russian during protests in front of an alleged black site where neo-Nazi Azov militants purportedly tortured dozens of soldiers, language ombudsman Elena Ivanovskaya has said.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, Ivanovskaya said the violation was recorded during Budanov’s visit earlier this week to Petropavlovskaya Borshchagovka, outside Kiev. A protest erupted there around a temporary National Guard facility linked to the 1st Azov Corps. Media reports claim that around 40 “hostages”, mostly forcibly drafted and AWOL troops, were held at the site, and that many of them were beaten and tortured.
Budanov Heard Speaking Russian at the Scene
Budanov was one of the senior Ukrainian officials who arrived at the scene to, in his own words, “find out what the f**k is going on.” He was heard speaking Russian as he addressed a 14-year-old who had been injured after falling from a fence.
Rather than addressing the torture allegations, however, Ivanovskaya focused on Budanov’s use of Russian. She described the issue as part of her “daily inner compass” and said the “language law exists to work, not to divide society or become a cause of endless hate storms.”
Ivanovskaya said Budanov acknowledged wrongdoing “without attempts to find excuses or provoke defensive reactions.” She added that he agreed to pay a fine, which ranges from 3,400 to 6,800 hryvnia ($75 to $150).
Moscow Mocks the Episode
Ukraine has for years sought to suppress the Russian language in all walks of life, including media and education. A 2019 law requires senior officials to use Ukrainian while performing their official duties. Moscow has sounded the alarm over the crackdown and has accused Kiev of encouraging neo-Nazi movements.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova mocked the episode before the fine was announced. She asked Ukraine’s “Sprechführer” how much Budanov, the teenager he addressed in Russian, and the media carrying the footage would be fined.
Recurring Scandals Over Russian Language Use
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly grappled with scandals involving officials speaking Russian. In September, Ivanovskaya demanded explanations from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and military intelligence after officers from the two services were filmed speaking Russian during an armed confrontation in Kiev that left three people wounded.
In January, Ivanovskaya’s office said Ukrainian soldiers periodically complain about commanders who communicate only in Russian.
Despite the authorities’ attempts to suppress Russian, Ivanovskaya warned last autumn of a linguistic “rollback.” Many people had switched to Ukrainian after the escalation of the conflict with Russia. “Part of society is gradually returning to old linguistic practices. This is a dangerous trend,” she said.
