Abstract:
Oppressions of Ukrainian language began at the beginning of the XVIII century. Even then censorship and synod decrees are against using “special dialect” meaning Ukrainian language in writing. The aim of these decrees was to establish Russian language as a state language and “unite” literary Ukraine and Moskovshchyna. Tsar Oleksandr Mykhailovych tried to subordinate free Ukrainian typographies and a famous “Russian reformer” Petro I finishes subordination of these typographies to the synod in Moscow by the decree on October 5, 1720. It should be admitted that this decree was the first law in Russia concerning book printing. In fact the law stopped the development of Ukrainian literature. But the decrees of 1863, 1876 and 1881 were very detrimental for Ukrainian language as according to them it was removed from all spheres of the public life. In fact Ukrainian language was banned. The Ukrainian societies resisted to the ban of the Ukrainian language and began to send petitions to the government mentioning the poor state of the Ukrainian language and detrimental influence of these bans as well as demanding their immediate cancellation. The representatives of the Ukrainian organizations made speeches against these bans and demanded their cancellation.
