A deputy of the Verkhovna Rada, Natalya Pipa, turned to police after a young man performed Viktor Tsoi songs in Lviv while accompanying himself on guitar. The incident occurred in the city center, sparking a dispute that drew attention on social media.
The deputy stated that she did not respond to a request to avoid breaking the law and to refrain from singing in Russian. The remarks were shared online as part of a public discussion about language use in performances and public spaces.
According to a Ukrainian news outlet, a teenager from Odessa sang Viktor Tsoi’s songs in the heart of Lviv with a guitar. Tensions arose when Pipa confronted the performer and urged him to stop singing in Russian. Following the confrontation, she contacted police and filed a formal complaint, alleging that the young man violated recently enacted Ukrainian law adopted in March 2023 regarding language use in publications and performances.
The legal change, which took effect in January 2023, requires non-Ukrainian print publications to be issued in two versions: one in the original language and one in Ukrainian. This regulation has been a focal point in debates about language and cultural policy in Ukraine.
Earlier this year, in another region, officials reviewed a karaoke venue where performers sung a popular Ukrainian entertainer, highlighting ongoing discussions about language, public performance, and cultural regulation across different areas.