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The article presents an analysis of language legislation in the Russian Federation (RF), focusing on the laws adopted in Russia since the dissolution of the USSR up to the present time. It shows that language legislation in the RF reflects the changes in the balance of power between the central federal authorities and the constituent republics as the federal centre tried to ensure the unity of the state without antagonising ethnic minorities. The history of language legislation in the USSR and the RF reveals a “pendulum swing” pattern in which the focus on the rights of minority languages shifts to promoting Russian as a lingua franca to create a unified communicative space within the RF. Special emphasis is laid on the educational domain as educational issues proved to be an especially sensitive matter for Russian citizens. A case study of language policies in Tatarstan highlights the heated debates provoked by the latest initiatives concerning teaching regional languages, revealing problems encountered by lawmakers due to opposing priorities of stakeholders with different ethnic backgrounds.
