The Estonian government intends to amend the language law to ban the showing of Russian-language films in cinemas, APA reports citing state broadcaster ERR.
“We want to encourage watching films in their original languages. And statistics show that support is needed not only for Estonian, but also for English—even among students for whom Estonian is their native language,” said Kätlin Kõverik, a representative of the republic’s Ministry of Education, as quoted by the portal.
Amendments being discussed in the Riigikogu (parliament) could affect the Russian dubbing of most films, with the exception of children’s and family films, which could significantly impact movie theater attendance. Opposition forces consider the bill flawed and the government’s approach too harsh, but the Estonian government is confident the changes will strengthen the position of the state language.
“The state and the Ministry of Education are effectively admitting they have failed to teach the Russian-speaking population the Estonian language. And instead of taking responsibility, they are shifting it onto residents, ordinary people, and businesses, which will now be forced to train their employees themselves or face hefty fines,” ERR quotes Vadim Belobrovtsev, a member of the Riigikogu from the Centre Party, as saying.
The bill will undergo a second and third reading. If passed, the amendments could come into force in the summer of 2026.
According to Estonian authorities, more than 285,800 Russians live in the Baltic republic, which accounts for over 20% of the population.