Ban on the Language in Books and Public Speeches (1892–1905)
A state campaign to drive the language out of public space and literature: in 1892 the Main Administration for Press Affairs directed the censorship committee to suppress translations into Ukrainian, "reducing the number of such talentless works for purely state purposes"[1]; at the archaeological congress in Kyiv in 1899, scholars from Austrian-ruled Ukraine were forbidden to read papers in Ukrainian - in protest they withdrew from participation[2]; at the unveiling of the Kotliarevsky monument in Poltava on 30-31 August 1903, only guests from Galicia were allowed to speak Ukrainian, while the mayor forbade the locals to do so, citing an order of the ministry of internal affairs[2]. Even children's literature fell under the ban: the 1895 circular prohibited Ukrainian books "for children's reading"[3].
Actors
| ID | Name | Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| G0009 | Russian Empire | 3 |
Instruments Applied
| ID | Name | Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| S0008 | Government | 3 |
Procedures Carried Out
The ban on the language in public speech: at the archaeological congress in Kyiv in 1899 the authorities forbade scholars from Austrian-ruled Ukraine to read papers in Ukrainian - they demonstratively withdrew from the sessions[2]. At the unveiling of the Kotliarevsky monument in Poltava on 30-31 August 1903, the Galicians were allowed to speak Ukrainian, but when local Ukrainians began reading a greeting address, the mayor cut the reading short, citing an order of the ministry of internal affairs; only in 1906 did the Senate revoke the ban, even reprimanding the minister for "the impropriety of his actions"[2]. In 1904-1905 the commissions of the Kyiv and Kharkiv universities and the Academy of Sciences, consulted by the Committee of Ministers, spoke out for lifting the bans on the Ukrainian word, yet the decrees of 1876 and 1881 were never formally revoked[2].
Total censorship of translations and book imports: in 1892 the Main Administration for Press Affairs directed the censorship committee to suppress translations into Ukrainian, "reducing the number of such talentless works for purely state purposes"[1]; "The ban on importing Ukrainian books from abroad was confirmed in the harshest form in 1894"[3].
The destruction of the basis for teaching children in their native language: "By a special circular of the Main Administration for Press Affairs in 1895, the printing of any books or collections in the Ukrainian language for children's reading was forbidden, 'even if in the substance of their content they appeared well-intentioned.'" The censor's resolution on a children's collection: "Obviously written for children, but they must learn in Russian. — Forbid"[3].