OREANDA-NEWS  Using the Russian language in Ukraine can become a privilege of those in power and the rich, when ordinary Ukrainians are persecuted for it. President of the Republic Vladimir Zelensky and his entourage speak Russian, deputy of the Kherson Regional Duma Alexander Fomin told TASS.

This is how the parliamentarian commented on the news about the inspections of teachers in Odessa on compliance with language legislation. The teachers called this procedure "as humiliating as possible." The inspectors examined the teachers' belongings and phones, and checked parent chats.

"We know that Zelensky or Ermak speak Russian in informal communication. Of course, no one will fine them or ostracize them. As for the rest, they should pay and repent for their right to their native Russian," Fomin said.

According to the MP, Kiev's struggle with the Russian language may even go as far as rewriting epitaphs on tombstones. "The worse the political situation or the situation at the front, the more actively the language topic is being promoted in Ukraine," he explained.

Earlier, Kiev-based political strategist Andrei Zolotarev said that Russian is becoming the language of trusting communication as opposed to the officially imposed Ukrainian language.