The State Duma has taken a step at first reading toward restricting the use of foreign terms in everyday Russian, with exceptions only for words that do not have widely used equivalents. The draft text, now published in the chamber’s electronic database, signals a deliberate move to curb lexical borrowings that fail to align with established Russian norms.
The explanatory note accompanying the bill clarifies the stance: words that do not have broadly used Russian analogues and are already listed in normative dictionaries should not be employed freely. In other words, if a term exists there is typically no justification to replace it with a foreign substitute simply for novelty or prestige.
Proponents argue that such a rule would shield Russian from an excess of foreign vocabulary, especially in official documents and formal communications. The measure also envisions strengthening the status of Russian as the state language across the territory of Russia and calls for tighter oversight of how the norms of modern Russian literary language are observed by both officials and ordinary citizens.
Supporters of the draft believe that adopting the law would raise general literacy and ensure more accurate use of the state language in public life. It would also support the creation of a reliable, unified corpus of grammars and dictionaries, serving as a reference for language users and authorities alike.
Historically, Russia has balanced openness to international influence with a commitment to preserving its linguistic core. The push for stricter controls on foreign terms appears in line with a broader policy objective: to maintain clarity, consistency, and cultural continuity in official discourse while still allowing necessary terms where Russian does not offer a suitable alternative. The proposed framework invites debate about the practical implications for education, media, business communication, and the everyday speech of citizens. It also raises questions about how norms are defined, updated, and enforced in a rapidly changing linguistic landscape.