A new public holiday has been introduced in Ukraine, the Day of Interethnic Harmony and Cultural Diversity. It will be celebrated annually on May 21.
That’s according to Presidential Decree No. 883/2024.
The document says the holiday was established to “strengthen the unity and harmony of the Ukrainian people, affirm the Ukrainian national and civic identity, and promote the free development of the cultural diversity of the indigenous peoples and national minorities of Ukraine.”
The holiday is also necessary to show respect for the contribution of indigenous peoples and ethnic communities to defending the state sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.
Recall that back in 2023, Volodymyr Zelensky signed the law on national minorities, which enshrines additional guarantees for national communities and is one of the recommendations of the European Commission on Ukraine’s path to the EU.
Although the document regulates the rights of national minorities, it provides that their rights and freedoms may be restricted in accordance with the law in the interests of national security.
