This week, Russia’s education and science supervision agency, Rosobrnadzor, disclosed that only 335 children of migrants have been permitted to take the Russian language proficiency test in 2025. This test is now a prerequisite for school enrollment. The data indicates that just 19 percent of the 1,762 children who applied were allowed to proceed with the test. A law prohibiting public schools from enrolling children of foreign nationals without proof of Russian language proficiency was enacted by the State Duma in December 2024 and has been effective since April 1, 2025.
Officials have cited incomplete documentation, lack of school places, and alleged inaccuracies in applications as reasons for rejecting the remaining 1,427 students. Of those who registered for the test, only 44 children took it, with just 27 completing it successfully; others did not pass.
Mandatory Russian language testing is part of a broader effort by the Kremlin to address migrant issues amid rising xenophobia following an attack at Crocus City Hall in March 2024, attributed to Central Asian suspects. Despite Russia’s reliance on migrant labor, there has been a rise in ultranationalist sentiment leading to significant legislative changes affecting migrants’ rights.
The requirement for language proficiency acts as a barrier to children’s right to education and contravenes Russia’s human rights obligations concerning education and nondiscrimination. “By weaponizing language proficiency as an exclusionary mechanism to deny migrant children access to education,” the authorities are depriving these children of benefits associated with education such as economic opportunities and health improvements. Furthermore, denying school access hinders social integration and increases risks like hazardous child labor or child marriage.
“All children in Russia should have equal access to education regardless of nationality or language proficiency.” It is urged that Russian authorities suspend this discriminatory requirement immediately and develop accelerated Russian language programs within government schools. Other governments are encouraged to advocate for these changes with Russian authorities.
