Europe has been plunged in deepest crisis in generations yesterday as Russia invaded Ukraine. In the build-up to the invasion, and in its aftermath, the Russian government has issued a number of surreal and Orwellian justifications for the invasion. For example, this morning, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said: "The Russian operation is being carried out to free Ukrainians from oppression so they can determine their own future".
Lavrov also made some comments that will make people in this island spit out their morning tea. Speaking to media, Lavrov attempted to justify Russia' treacherous invasion of Ukraine by referencing Ireland's post-colonial relationship with the UK.
Russian Foreign Minister mentions Ireland in justification for war
'For example if in Ireland they prohibited the English language, what would the UK think about it? I can't imagine that a law like that would last for more than a couple of days..'
Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov attempting to justify invading Ukraine.. wha? pic.twitter.com/JFBbdS9WJK— Brendan Hughes (@brendanhughes64) February 25, 2022
Lavrov was alleging that the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy told citizens of his who were interested in Russian culture to 'go away from the Ukraine'.
He said:
"For example if in Ireland they prohibited the English language, what would the UK think about it? Or if in Belgium if they prohibited the French language, I can't imagine that a law like that would last for more than a couple of days, or even hours. In the west, they only see it for the reason of their own egotistical interests."
The status of the Russian language has been controversial and emotive in Ukraine for the last decade and more. In 2017, Ukraine passed a law banning the teaching of minority languages beyond primary school. The law was criticised not only by Russian speakers in the country, but also by those who speak Hungarian and Romanian.
However, in this case, Lavrov is showing a staggering ignorance of Irish affairs by attempting to draw a parallel between here and the Ukraine.
For one thing, Ireland - like Ukraine - is a sovereign, democratic state and can pass whatever laws it likes without fear of violent repercussions from its neighbours.
More pertinently, one of the most bitter legacies of British colonialism on this island is that the Irish language is hardly spoken. If even the most reactionary nationalist/anti-British government ruled Ireland, they could never ban the English language, because of the damage done to the Irish language by centuries of British rule.
We here know all about the tragedy of foreign rule. That's why most right-thinking people here stand with Ukraine and reject this crass comparison from the Russian foreign minister.
As you can image, Irish people have not been thrilled to hear Lavrov's comments.
Irish twitter just now https://t.co/HcVxYH7J3T pic.twitter.com/0zUEXE64Cw
— Robbie Weir (@rw2711) February 25, 2022
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