Russian MP compares English words to ‘illegal immigrants’

Lawmaker Sergey Yeremin says foreign words threaten cultural heritage

Russian MP Sergey Yeremin has criticized the growing use of English words in the Russian language, and called for stricter regulations to preserve the nation’s cultural identity.

In a Telegram post on Monday, Yeremin expressed strong support for a proposed law to limit the use of foreign words in public spaces. “I am fully in favor. This [English and American] chaff has flooded our language like illegal migrants, displacing native words,” he wrote.

Yeremin, a representative of the ruling United Russia party in the lower house of the parliament, served as the mayor of Krasnoyarsk, a major Siberian city, from 2017 to 2022.

His remarks came shortly after Vyacheslav Volodin, the chair of the State Duma, prioritized a language protection bill for discussion at its first reading. Last week, he instructed the Committee on Culture to expedite the bill’s preparation, following President Vladimir Putin’s orders to fast-track the initiative.

Read more

The proposed legislation aims to preserve the purity of the Russian language by restricting the use of foreign words in public signage, product labels, and in the names of residential complexes. Exceptions would only apply when no Russian equivalent exists.

Volodin emphasized the importance of the language as a cornerstone of Russian cultural heritage, stating, “We must protect and develop Russian as an integral part of our culture and spiritual legacy.”

Efforts to safeguard the Russian language have been intensifying lately. In February 2023, Putin signed a law banning the use of foreign words with Russian equivalents in official state communications. The law requires government officials to adhere to modern Russian literary standards and ensures compliance through official oversight.