Russian MP introduces bill on educational demands for foreigners

An MP of LDPR Mikhail Degtyaryov has presented a bill with harsher demands of knowledge of the Russian language for foreigners and additional tests for knowledge of Russian history, culture and Constitution, RIA Novosti reports.

Demands for knowledge of the language refer only to people granted citizenship. They need to know 1,300 words in Russia. Such demands became obligatory for foreign workers in housing and utilities services in December 2012.

The bill sets three levels of language skills for foreigners (basic, first and second). The basic level requires knowledge of 1,300 words in Russian, the first level 2,300 words, the second level 10,000 words.

The MP added that inability or refusal of foreigners to adapt in Russia provoked discontent among the native population, augmenting interethnic and inter-religious tensions.