Odesa becomes first city to give Russian status

The Odesa City Council approved a resolution yesterday that granted the Russian language status as a regional language, in line with new legislation signed into law by President Viktor Yanukovych last week. The measure was approved by 66% of councilmen that voted.

Brad Wells: The language card is going to continue to be pushed by politicians of all stripes in Ukraine. Importantly, the language issue is likely to mobilize the radical elements in the pro-governmental and opposition, but we do not see it having a major effect on undecided and swing voters, except of course in certain parts of Western and Central Ukraine that have felt their native Ukrainian language come under threat. Several weeks into the campaign we have seen little new and expect the next few months to be high on populistic promises and low on substantive plans to tackle economic or financial reform, corruption or to strengthen the rule of law.