Photo: MFA Russia
Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed concern about the situation with Russian-language education in Estonia, the ministry’s website reports. The authorities have already “successfully” coped with the elimination of higher education in Russian, the representative of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova notes. The signs of the beginning of campaign to destroy Russian schools are becoming more and more noticeable. At the same time, Tallinn is trying to cover up shifting all schools to the state language with the idea of so-called “united school”. It is assumed that both Russian and Estonian children will study there. However, the learning process will be based on Estonian.
According to MFA representative, local media have already begun to inspire the residents of Baltic republic that new system is the best option.
At the same time, local authorities are putting pressure on heads of Russian schools. Those who complain are often forced to resign under various pretexts. For example, this happened in Kohtla-Järve gymnasium, where almost 100% of population speaks Russian.
Speeches of some Estonian politicians also arouses indignation. They cynically declare that the changes are carried out for the sake of Russian-speaking schoolchildren and their parents. Some politicians even claim that students of Russian schools are asking for it themselves. At the same time, it is impossible to hide the fact that odious plans for the abolition of education in their native language are being ignored under supposedly good intentions.
Zakharova noted that the formation of education policy is an internal issue of any country. But we must not forget that there are international obligations undertaken by Tallinn within the framework of European Union and OSCE, she emphasized. They regulate the obligations of the state to people and national minorities that use the language that is common in this territory.
MFA called on relevant international structures to evaluate the course taken by Estonia to discriminate against Russian-speaking population objectively.
As Russkiy Mir reported, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called Tallinn’s suggestion on common schools for Russian-speaking and Estonian-speaking children unacceptable. In his opinion, this idea is not in the interests of Russian-speaking minority.
Russkiy Mir
