Udmurt scientist's suicide provokes disputes about learning native languages in Caucasus

In North Ossetia and Karachay-Cherkessia, NGOs called for a revision of the law on the study of native languages after Albert Razin, a supporter of the preservation of the Udmurt language, had committed suicide in public. The languages of the peoples of Northern Caucasus are endangered, note users of social networks.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in July 2018, the State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted amendments to the Law "On Education", implying the study of the state languages of the republics of Russia "on a voluntary basis."

On September 10, the 79-year-old scientist committed self-immolation at a picket in front of the building of the State Council of the Udmurt Republic in Izhevsk.

The NGOs of the Caucasus reacted to his suicide. Thus, the Ossetian organization "Nyfs" and the youth committee "Styr Nykhasa" noted that Albert Razin was seeking the cancellation of the law on the study of native languages.

"His self-sacrifice is now woven into the history of the struggle of every indigenous people of Russia to preserve the identity," the "Alania-Inform" reports on its website.

The "Congress of the Karachay People" supported the Albert Razin's position against the refusal of compulsory study of native languages at schools.

"Until the last minute of his life," Albert Razin was seeking to preserve the Udmurt language, and he was defending that "issue urgent for all small peoples of Russia," noted an author of the blog on the "Caucasian Knot" entitled "A Nalchik woman's point of view".