Russia 'concerned' about Armenian protests of foreign-language schools
MOSCOW – A senior Russian parliament deputy says Moscow is concerned about vehement protests in Armenia against a government bill allowing foreign-language schools, Radio Liberty's Armenian Service reports.
Nikolay Ryzhkov, a co-chairman of a Russian-Armenian commission on interparliamentary cooperation and Duma deputy, has said that there is a sense in Russia that the protests are primarily directed against the Russian language. He said the Russian language should be in greater use in Armenia not least because of the existence of a large Armenian community in Russia.
"More than one generation of Armenians live in our country, and I think one should value the language they speak," Ryzhkov told journalists.
The controversial bill amending two Armenian laws met fierce resistance from opposition and civic groups as well as prominent public figures after being unveiled by the government in May. Critics say it would jeopardize the constitutionally guaranteed status of Armenian as the country's sole official language.
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