The Bulgarian community in the Southwestern Ukrainian city of Izmail has appealed in court the decision of local authorities not to grant Bulgarian a regional language status.
Izmail Mayor Andrii Abramchenko has refused to consider a Councilor's proposal to give Bulgarian status of a regional language alongside Russian, the Ukrainian News Agency reported on Sunday.
According to a recently adopted piece of legislation, the official use of a regional language by local authorities is guaranteed if 10% of the inhabitants are its native speakers.
Bulgarians account for at least 10% of Izmail's population.
"We will definitely address the President and the Verkhovna Rada once again. This violation must be corrected," Vladimir Petrov, head of Izmail's Cyril and Methodius Community, has declared, as cited by the Focus news agency.
The Izmail Municipal Council in has already granted Russian a status of regional language in the town.