The article discusses Russia's ongoing policy of systematic russification, which aims to make Russian the dominant language across the country while marginalizing minority languages. Despite officially recognizing 26 regional languages, the federal government promotes Russian as the unifying force, reducing minority languages to local cultural elements. The article highlights the case of the Chuysky language, spoken by the Chulym people in Central Siberia, where fewer than 30 speakers remain, most elderly. This decline is attributed to centuries of colonialism and decades of russification policies. While some indigenous languages might still have a chance at survival, the Russian government's shift toward authoritarianism since the war in Ukraine has worsened the situation. The article references historical Soviet-era policies like 'korienization,' which briefly promoted minority languages but were later reversed.
Bias read (Left): The article frames Russia's language policy as oppressive and systematically marginalizing minority languages, using terms like 'totalitarianism' and emphasizing the negative impact of russification. It critiques the Russian government's actions and highlights the plight of indigenous communities, a
