DemAz.org, Azerbaijan
May 6 2008

Rights of Russian-speaking Population in Armenia Not Protected Duly in
Armenia 06.05.2008

Two-day regional conference dedicated to situation of Russian-speaking
population in South Caucasian countries and their integration in
society was held in Tbilisi (Georgia).

At the event which gathered representatives of Russian-speaking
population of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia, position of
Russian-speaking population of Armenia was subjected to sharp
criticism.

In his speech head of Yerevan-based public organization
`Russia’, Yuri Yakovlev, said that ethnic
Russians and Russian-speaking population feels uncomfortable in
Armenia, their rights are not duly protected by state, they fail to
partake in public and political life of the country.

It was underlined that there is not a single Russian school in
Armenia, and entry to Russian-speaking forms in Armenian schools is
seriously restricted. This, in turn, impedes job placement of majority
of Russian-speaking population. In general, following reduction level
of the number of ethnic Russians over 30 years Armenia
`takes lead’ over former countries of USSR. Over
this period number of Russians living in Armenia has been reduced 9
times.

Representative of Russian-speaking diaspora of Azerbaijan, Guljan
Masutova, in turn, underlined that Russian-speaking population of
Azerbaijan doesn’t face such problems and our country
serves as example for national tolerance not only in South Caucasus
but all over the world.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress