Putin Launches Forced Russification Campaign, Targets Indigenous Cultures
Russian leader Vladimir Putin has signed a new decree titled “On the Approval of the Fundamentals of the State Language Policy of the Russian Federation”, which, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, marks the beginning of an aggressive campaign to erase the languages and cultures of Russia’s indigenous peoples, The Gaze reports.
The decree mandates the forced Russification of the entire population, presenting the Russian language as the primary “unifying factor” and a cornerstone of civic identity. In doing so, it marginalizes the linguistic rights of national minorities and migrant communities, effectively sidelining non-Russian cultures within the country.
The document lists three main “threats” to Russia’s language policy:
- the use of foreign words in official communication,
- efforts by other countries to restrict the spread of the Russian language, and
- the shrinking use of indigenous languages across Russia.
Analysts warn that while the Kremlin often claims to respect cultural diversity, its actual policies have long pushed Russian as the sole standard in public institutions, education, and media.
In addition to domestic measures, the decree calls for expanding the network of “Russian Centers” abroad. Officially tasked with promoting Russian language and culture, these centers are expected to serve as soft power tools—strengthening the Kremlin’s political and intelligence influence internationally.
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