Alisher Kadyrov, deputy of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, has strongly responded to the recent proposal by Russian Vice-Speaker Pyotr Tolstoy, suggesting restrictions on citizens of countries whose national language is not Russian from working in certain professions in Russia.
Tolstoy's proposal, which emphasized the importance of the Russian language in post-Soviet countries, argued that if the Russian language is not the state language, individuals from those countries should be restricted from working in public places such as drivers, sellers, and couriers.
In a pointed reply, Kadyrov suggested a different approach.
"We should offer to fire employees who don't know the Uzbek language. We will go another way - we will teach them the Uzbek language. And you learn to work on your own. This may lead to real respect for the Russian language," Kadyrov stated, highlighting the importance of promoting linguistic diversity rather than imposing restrictions.
Furthermore, he emphasized the imperative for the Russian language to serve as the primary medium for inter-ethnic communication across all regions of the former union republics. This approach aims to ensure that Russia actively engages with immigrants, rather than adopting a passive stance.
The debate on language has spilled over into diplomatic discussions, with the adviser to the President of Uzbekistan, Kahramon Kuronboyev, seeking assistance from the Russian State Duma in establishing educational institutions for the children of Uzbek migrants in Russia. Russian Deputy Mikhail Delyagin dismissed this request as illegal, asserting that Uzbekistan should take back its citizens and build educational facilities within its own borders.
Responding to Delyagin's remarks, Kadyrov, who also chairs the democratic party "Milliy Tiklanish," drew attention to the potential consequences of such attitudes. He suggested that if the treatment of Uzbeks and the Uzbek language in Russia mirrors Delyagin's sentiments, a proportional response could be expected in Uzbekistan concerning the Russian language.
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