Vladimir Putin about languages: "I think there are no serious problems with the ethnic issue"

UFA, 14 December 2017. /Bashinform News Agency, Elmira Sabirova/. "I believe that we do not have any serious problems with the ethnic issue", Russian President Vladimir Putin said at an annual large press conference today, answering a question on the study of national languages in schools.

"We have only one goal regarding language: to provide the same starting conditions for all children, no matter where they live in Russia", the head of state said. "And, if people know their national language, I consider this to be very important. What we definitely must do is guarantee an opportunity to study the national language, not only the Tatar language, but also the Mari, Chechen, Yakut or any other language. Thankfully, we have a huge variety of national languages. They constitute our cultural and language diversity and are our pride and our wealth. We must certainly support this".