Russia’s State Duma recommends ban on foreign words

The “inappropriate use” of foreign words in Russia may soon be subject to a fine if a bill drafted by the State Duma’s special committee for culture is passed, although President Vladimir Putin has already expressed his opposition. The vaguely-worded initiative, proposed this week, seeks to punish those who “violate Russian literary language by using foreign words and expressions which go against the norms of Russian literary language and which have commonly used counterparts in Russian”.

The new bill could subject law-breakers to fines of between 2,000 and 2,500 roubles ($58-$72) for individual citizens, 4,000 to 5,000 roubles ($117-$145) for officials and 40,000 to 50,000 roubles ($1,167-$1,458) for organisations.

Vladimir Bortko, a film director and deputy chairman of the Duma committee for culture, said that it was “impossible to overreact” to the plight of the Russian language, which has reportedly seen a decline of 100 million Russian speakers in the last 20 years. He added: “We are not the first to consider such initiatives. First were the French, who were concerned with Anglicisms and the disappearance of the great French language.”

According to the Itar-Tass news agency, neither Putin nor the State Legal Department support the bill with both arguing that there is sufficient legislation concerning the preservation of the Russian language. Earlier this month, Putin created a presidential committee for the Russian language with its 40 members entrusted to “secure the development, protection and support of the Russian language as well as increase the effectiveness of the Russian government’s power in this field”.