Former Ukrainian MP Iryna Farion shot and killed in Lviv

Authorities probe motives as Farion's language promotion campaigns take centre stage

LVIV:

A gunman shot and killed Iryna Farion, a former member of Ukraine's parliament known for her fervent campaigns to promote the Ukrainian language, on Friday. The incident occurred in the western city of Lviv, and police are conducting an extensive search for the suspect.

Lviv Regional Governor Maksym Kozytskyi confirmed on Telegram that Farion, 60, died after being transported to the hospital. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko indicated that investigators are currently exploring whether the shooting was related to Farion’s political activities or if there were personal motives involved. The police are working in conjunction with Ukraine's SBU security service to locate the perpetrator.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that he is receiving regular updates on the search for the gunman and emphasised that any act of violence must be condemned.

Farion, a linguist by profession, joined the nationalist Svoboda (Freedom) party in 2005 and was elected to parliament in 2012. She also served on the Lviv regional council but was unsuccessful in subsequent parliamentary bids. Farion was notable for her vigorous advocacy for the Ukrainian language and her criticism of public figures who spoke Russian.

In 2018, amid Ukraine's conflict with Russian-financed separatists, she called for violence against Russian speakers. During the early months of the February 2022 Russian invasion, Farion criticized Russian-speaking fighters of the Azov regiment, who were defending Mariupol.

While Ukrainian is the official state language, many Ukrainians speak Russian as a first language due to the Soviet legacy.

Language promotion remains a significant issue in Ukraine, with legislative measures enacted to ensure the use of Ukrainian in public and service sectors.