The meeting addressed current issues pertaining to the development of the Russian language and supporting the Russian language abroad.
In his opening remarks, Council Chairman Vladimir Tolstoy noted: “Language is the foundation for any nation. It is the most important binding element that allows a nation to feel itself whole not just within its borders, but everywhere that the language prevails. Today, in eastern Ukraine we can observe the consequences that can result from attempts to suppress people linguistically, from people being severed forcibly from their mother tongue. Leo Tolstoy once said, ‘We can judge a man’s virtue by how he treats words.’ Thus, the government and the authorities’ responsibility for the nation’s future, for the morality of our society should be demonstrated in the way we treat words and language.”
Members of the Council approved the areas of work for interdepartmental commissions established under the Council, and identified priority issues to be examined at meetings of the Council, commissions and working groups in 2014–2015.
The Council meeting also examined the draft concept Russian School Abroad and the draft concept for the Russian Federation’s support of the Russian language abroad, developed by the Government of the Russian Federation.