Mixed messages from Minority Committee Head

13.07.2007 Zakarpattja.net

Ukrainian legislation does not allow recognition of the Rusyns of Transcarpathia as a separate nationality. The head of the State Committee on Matters of Nationality and Religion Heorhij Popov said at a press conference in Kyiv.

"Our Ukrainian legislation, I answer as the head of a state organ, does not define who constitutes a nationality, in what fashion, etc.," he said.

At the same time, Popov confirms that Rusyns can hold the status of national minority.

"The matter will have to be reviewed when it comes time to hold the next census. But we do not have any other mechanism. Only in the context of the census, when the law on the census is adopted and a decision is made, is a list of nationalities drawn up," he said.

Popov did not specify when the next population census will be held in Ukraine. Aside from that, the head of the State Committee on Matters of Nationality and Religion expressed doubts in the real necessity of the Rusyns receiving the status of national minority, according to "Novyj Rehion."

"This is more of a political-cultural step," he thought.

It is to be recalled that earlier the Ukrainian Ombudsman Nina Karpachova requested that the government recognize the Rusyns as a separate nationality.