Russian lawmakers pass first reading of bill to ban foreign words on signs and storefronts
Russia’s State Duma has passed the first reading of a bill that would restrict the use of foreign words in public spaces, including in advertising and the media. The announcement was published on the lower house of parliament’s website.
The legislation, first introduced in 2023, is intended to “protect the Russian language” and “significantly limit” the use of anglicisms and other foreign words in Russia’s public sphere, according to an explanatory note attached to the bill.
The measure would require businesses to use Russian in commercial signage and publicly accessible consumer information. “This means that signs and storefronts will no longer be allowed to display words such as ‘coffee,’ ‘fresh,’ ‘sale,’ ‘shop,’ ‘open,’ and similar terms,” the bill’s authors wrote.
The restrictions would not apply to brand names, trademarks, or service marks.
Russia already enforces similar language regulations, which lawmakers say are aimed at “protecting the Russian language from excessive use of foreign words.” In February 2023, President Vladimir Putin signed a law banning the use of foreign words with Russian equivalents in official government communications.
