Week-ending 13 December 2024
“This bill not only blatantly violates international law, which Russia is bound by, but also the country’s own Constitution, which prohibits discrimination and guarantees everyone the right to free school education. It is a gross display of xenophobia elevated to the level of state policy. We call on the upper chamber of Parliament to resolutely reject this dehumanizing legislation. Its enforcement would marginalize hundreds of thousands of children, deprive them of a chance to obtain essential education, disparage their dignity and significantly impact their life chances. Every child, regardless of nationality and status, has the right to education and deserves an equal opportunity to learn and thrive.”
– Natalia Zviagina, Amnesty International’s Russia Director, ‘Russia: Reject discriminatory bill banning non-Russian speaking migrant children from schools,’ Amnesty International, 11 December 2024
Reacting to news that the Russian State Duma has passed a bill banning migrant children who do not speak Russian from enrolling in schools.
