00:25, 15 May 2018

Activists call on KBR's authorities to protect national languages

Valery Khatazhukov. Photo courtesy of the KBR's Human Rights Centre

The law on the voluntary study of national languages at schools will lead to the disappearance of the nations inhabiting the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR) and the republic itself, and may trigger conflicts. This was stated by Madina Khakuasheva, a philologist, and Valery Khatazhukov, human rights defender.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 23, KBR's figures of science and culture appealed to the authorities stating that the Kabardian and Balkar languages are under threat of disappearance.

The bill on the "voluntary" studying national languages "will lead to a sharp degradation of mother tongues," the activists have emphasized.

A new letter to the authorities urging them not to adopt the bill was signed by about 150 people, including scientists, activists and figures of arts.

Valery Khatazhukov, the head of the KBR's Human Rights Centre, believes that the authorities' inaction on this issue could lead to the emergence of radical groupings.

The loss of language will lead to the loss of cultural identity and the disappearance of the nation, Madina Khakuasheva, a Doctor of Philology, has stated.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Author: Lyudmila Maratova

Source: CK correspondent