MPs refuse to address language discrimination
The Standing Committee on Education, Culture and Science of the House of Representatives has considered a report on violations of the rights of Belarusian-language citizens in the Salihorsk district submitted by local human rights defenders. However, MPs found no reasons to change the law.
In its official response, the committee chairman Mr. Siahodnik argues that the provisions of the Law “On Languages in the Republic of Belarus” are in full accordance with the Constitution and create the necessary conditions for the development of bilingualism in the country. The MP says that the existing language legislation is “an adequate and flexible legal framework that defines the conditions necessary to achieve a practical balance in the functioning of the two languages in all spheres of public life, as well as to meet the needs of the society and protect the constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens”.
The House of Representatives called numerous examples of flawed practice an exception and refused to accept them as criteria for assessing the implementation of state policy for support and development of the Belarusian language.
