Role and Perception of the Russian Language among Ethnic Minorities in Georgia

Abstract

This study aims to understand whether and how the recent geopolitical events have affected the role and perception of the Russian language among ethnic minorities in Georgia, for whom Russian has long been a lingua franca. This crucial role of Russian has been challenged by the Georgian Law on Official Language, which states that the study of the Georgian language is compulsory in institutions where the language of instruction is not Georgian (Article 7), and by the increasing anti-Russian sentiment after the large-scale invasion of Ukraine. To understand if and to what extent the Georgian language policy and the geopolitical situation have affected the perception of the Russian language among ethnic minorities in Georgia, we analysed data collected via a questionnaire addressed to members of ethnic minorities, mainly Armenians and Azerbaijanis. The questionnaire investigated the informants' usage of Georgian, English, and Russian across a variety of contexts, their perception of Russian from a political perspective, its role in their careers, and their attitudes toward Georgian. Finally, the respondents were asked whether they shifted to other languages after certain historical or political events. Data analysis shows that Russian is still popular, but its prestige and importance have decreased. Conversely, the respondents acknowledge the role of Georgian in various contexts.