ICA calls on to block the law on native languages

The cancellation of mandatory study of native languages at schools will finally bury the languages of minor nations and lead to the death of Circassian culture, the leaders of the International Circassian Association (ICA) have stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 19, the State Duma adopted in the first reading the amendments to the Federal Law "On Education", presupposing the study of the state languages of national republics of Russia "on the voluntary basis." By July 4, the petition against the amendments and in defence of native languages gathered more than 40,000 signatures.

The ICA's appeal on the preservation and development of the Adyg (Circassian) language was released today. It was adopted at the regular sitting of the ICA's Council held on June 30 in Turkey and is addressed to Russian authorities. The appeal has been posted on the ICA's website on July 5.

Murat Tabishev, a member of the Council, a researcher at the Adyg folklore sector of the Kabardino-Balkarian Institute of Humanitarian Studies (KBIHS), told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the issue of mandatory study of native languages of Russia's national republics at schools became one of the main issues of the sitting.

"A lively discussion took place there. Many Diaspora members expressed the opinion that the Circassian language and the Circassian culture would perish if there are no conditions for preserving the language, at least in the historical homeland of Circassians," Mr Tabishev said.

At the sitting, it was decided to adopt a special appeal calling not to transfer native languages into the category of optional school subjects. The appeal was prepared for dissemination in the Russian, Circassian, Turkish and Arabic languages, Murat Tabishev has added.

On behalf of the multi-million Circassian Diaspora, the authors of the appeal have urged Russian authorities to pursue a language policy "that would preserve the languages of nations of Russia, including the Circassian language".

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 5, 2018 at 11:35 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.