러시아ㆍ유라시아

The decline of status of the Russian language is common phenomenon throughout the Post Soviet New Independent States. In particular, it is a consequent measure in Armenia, the 158 슬라브어 연구 제 20권 2호number and proportion of whose Russian people are least among the 15 Soviet Republics, not bordered on Russian Federation. But because of its geopolitic and economic situation and social-cultural necessities (demands) the status of Russian language has been improved again since the mid-1990s. A current expansion of Armenian-Russian bilingualism in Armenia is the cause of revitalization of economic and politic, cultural, academic exchanges between Armenia and Russian Federation. Also Armenia is besieged by Islamic influence and Turkic nationality. Several massacres by Turkish people from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century and a territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan have sought to strengthen the ties with Russian Federation, thus these ties are very important to survival of Armenian people and its state. But it is natural that independent and homogeneous Armenia has restricted use of Russian language. Moreover the level of Russian language skill has fallen, Armenian was the state language in Soviet Armenia. The situation of Russian language in Armenia is different from case of other states, for example, Russian speakers (including Russian minority) comprise 25% of the total population in Ukraine, Russians comprise 25% in Kazakhstan and Russians stand the third depending on their population in Kyrgyzstan. But Russian minority thinks that preservation and development of Russian language is possible in Armenian educational system without provoking the Armenian national sentiment. The command of Russian is the first requirement for Armenian people because Armenians are working as immigrant workers in Russia and their professions are sponsored by Russian companies. Russian language is spoken on the whole in republic, but it does not have the official status. Accordingly, Russian community claims the amendment and flexibility of Law on Language that has discriminative contents.