Interesting hearings occurred in Luhansk region of Ukraine. The reason was the initiative of Luhansk regional rada Valerij Halenko. The statesman proposed the convocation of a special regional rada session given to the issue of granting the Russian language a special status in the region. Mr. Halenko has practically initiated the introduction of official bilingualism in a single Ukrainian region.

However, the proposal incited mass public protest. Mr. Halenko was challenged by the head of Luhansk regional state administration. The peculiar side of the situation is that the champion of the Ukrainian language in Luhansk region has a specific surname, which is Moskal.

The court of Pečersk district in Kyiv upheld the suit of the head of Luhansk regional state administration Hennadij Moskal against the head of Luhansk regional rada Valerij Halenko.

According to the Ukrainian mass media, the corresponding judgement was passed on Thursday.

Owing to this decision Halenko’s direction “On summoning the second session of regional rada of fifth convocation” was terminated.

The session was supposed to look into the issue of using the Russian language in Luhansk region and the address of the head of Luhansk administration on the execution of authority delegated to him by the regional rada for implementing the program of social-economic and cultural development of the region in the first quarter of 2006.

The judgement of the court is to be discharged immediately. Preliminary investigation is settled for May, 16 2006.

The documents have been directed to the prosecution body of Luhansk region to establish prosecution oversight for the course of regional rada session, fixed for June, 25 2006.

Copies of the judgement were presented to the respondent for immediate execution.

The representatives of the Party of regions threatened to blackball governor Moskal.