Perm Activist Calls for a Ban on English in State and Municipal Institutions
An activist from the Perm region has submitted an appeal to parliamentarians urging the Legislative Assembly to prohibit the use of English in state and municipal institutions within the region. The appeal, reported by ura.ru, signals a growing push for language policy changes at local and regional levels.
Previously, Irina Ponomareva, a lawyer from Okhansk, raised concerns during a local contest for the mayoral post, accusing the main candidate of fraud and contacting the police over irregularities. Today, Ponomareva has broadened her campaign to demand a ban on English for officials. Her list of proposals also targets foreign words in commerce and public catering, aiming to reshape everyday language use in public spaces.
In the letter to the legislature, the activist requests a comprehensive law that would ban the English language in state and municipal institutions across clothing, products, and packaging. She also advocates for prohibitions on goods produced or imported with English inscriptions and calls for a system of fines and sanctions for violations. The activist emphasizes a preference for a distinctly Russian linguistic environment within regional governance and daily life.
The outreach to the governor’s office followed a personal visit at the end of January. The governor, who met with the activist in his administration, encountered concerns about English-themed items in the lobby coffee shop. The visitor noted cups with English inscriptions, a vendor wearing an English-labeled badge, and foods bearing English text. She pointed to the shop’s overall atmosphere, including a music selection and even a nose ring on a salesperson, as evidence of what she views as cultural Americanization. Ponomareva argued that American products should not be present in government spaces and suggested a preference for distinctly Russian touches, such as pancakes served with traditional décor and attire for staff in simpler, regionally rooted outfits.
“This is a form of external influence shaping official behavior, an influence she associates with American music and consumer culture that she believes conditions officials to rely on caffeine and other everyday habits,” the activist stated in conversations about the broader cultural shift she perceives as detrimental to Russian public life.
In related developments, regional lawmakers in Krasnodar recently approved a ban on using foreign languages on city signs, reflecting a broader trend in some areas to prioritize native language usage in public signage and official communication. The Perm initiative adds to a pattern of localized language policy debates, where language becomes a proxy for cultural and political identity and for questions about modernization, globalization, and national cohesion. The discussion continues to evoke questions about practical implications, including tourism, business, education, and international collaboration, while balancing regional autonomy with national standards. [citation]