Minority groups rally in support of Russian language
Leaders of Finno-Ugric public organisations in the Republic of Karelia demand that the main broadcasting company in the region abandons plans to replace parts of its Russian-language broadcasts with indigenous-language programs.
The leaders of the organisations have now officially requested regional authorities to put pressure on the Rossiya TV and Radio Channel. The organisations, among them the Karelian Congress, the ”Young Karelia”, the Veps Culture Society, the Ingermanland Union of Karelia’s Finns and the Georgian and Greek Culture Societies, believe that “curtailing the Russian-language programs could whip up tensions in the republic”, Barents Press reports with reference to the Glasnost Defence Foundation.
A remarkable move, unimaginable for most indigenous groups all over the world, the address to the regional authorities could eventually further weaken the position of the Karelian minorities.
It is Radio Karelia, a unit under under the state-controlled “Rossiya” broadcasting company, which plans to step up broadcasts in indigenous languages.
Russians make up about 73 percent of the population in the Northwest Russian region. About 10 percent are Karelians, while Finns are about 2,3 percent and Veps – 0,8 percent. In addition, the region has a considerable part of Belarusians and Ukrainians.
According to Barents Press, the request from the public organisations has been addressed to regional Governor Sergey Katanandov, as well as to Federal Inspector A. Hyunninen and the region’s human rights ombudsman.