Ukrainian parliament reconvenes to pass controversial language bill

The Ukranian parliament reconvenes to attempt passing the bill granting the Russian language an official status in several regions in the east and south of Ukraine, where it is the mother language of many citizens.

President Viktor Yanukovich's Party of the Regions passed the bill quickly, in a manner many defined as trickery, however, protests were soon held, some of which turned violent in the streets of Kiev. As a result, Parliament speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn refused to sign the bill, which is necessary for it to come into effect.

During the special meeting, which was held despite the fact the parliament went into recess until September, Yanukovich's party is expected to try to persuade Lytvyn to sign the bill or elect a new speaker, as the party hold majority in the house.

The bill boosting the status of the Russian language was passed in its first reading by the MPs from the ruling Party of the Regions on June 4 and subsequently approved at a second reading a month later.  

By becoming a 'regional language', Russian will be used in courts, hospitals and other institutions in Russian-speaking regions. 

Opponents to the bill have claimed that the new law could undermine the status of the Ukrainian language.