Permanent Representative of Russia to UNESCO R.Alyautdinov at the press conferenсe dedicated to International Mother Language Day:

💬Russia’s advanced positions in the field of multilingualism are visible in UNESCO, within the framework of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages ​​2022-2032. Anastasia Parshakova 🇷🇺 has been elected as Chairperson of IFAP working group on multilingualism.

📍Russia contributed to the adoption of Executive Board decisions, encouraging proclamation and celebration of language days.

📍In 2023, the Russian Language Day was celebrated at the Organization’s headquarters for the first time.

📍Russia is a multinational, multilingual country in which representatives of more than 190 peoples who speak different languages ​​live side by side within a single and integral territory. Preservation of native languages, history and culture is a key value of Russian society.

👉🏻Watch the press conference

🗓 On February 21, the world marks International Mother Language Day, first proclaimed by the General Conference of UNESCO on November 17, 1999 & formally recognized by the UNGA Resolution 56/262 in 2002.

Russia is home to more than 190 ethnic groups, speaking more than 270 languages & dialects. In the State Ethnic Policy Strategy of the Russian Federation until 2025, state support & protection of the culture and languages of the peoples of our country is considered one of the main principles of the state ethnic policy:

🔹 Through legislation, Russia guarantees all its peoples equal rights to preserve & comprehensively develop their mother language & freedom to choose & use their language of communication. It recognises that all languages spoken in Russia have an equal right to preservation & development;

🔹 It is compulsory to study a mother language at primary & secondary schools;

🔹 The Law On Nomadic Schools was adopted, which made it possible to expand educational opportunities in an environment familiar to children of small indigenous peoples;

🔹 Centres for studying mother languages are being created in various regions of the country.

International Mother Language Day is intended to remind that language-based discrimination is unacceptable. Multilingualism is one of the main values of the UN & an important area of UNESCO’s activities.

❗️ Today, the Russian-speaking population of Ukraine & the Baltic states is being oppressed. Actions taken by the authorities of these states are aimed at eradicating the Russian language from all spheres of life despite the fact that it is the native language of many citizens. The Russian language is being systematically erased from the education & information space.

On December 10, the Ukrainian legislation adopted a law, which established total & indefinite discrimination against the Russian language in Ukraine. The Baltic States are pursuing a policy to completely expel the Russian language from their education systems in violation of international obligations.

🇷🇺 Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov takes part in the first plenary session of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

📍 Rio de Janeiro, February 21, 2024