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Delegates of Ida-Viru County cities should demonstrate their willingness to be a part of Estonia in the broadest possible sense and to introduce the country's values into the hearts and minds of their voters more often and more clearly. This would help the cities' development, support and understanding by the rest of Estonia, Erik Gamzejev writes in Vikerraadio's daily comment.
Some councilors in the border town of Narva intentionally present their views at council sessions in the Russian language, despite the law requiring that they do so in Estonian, city council chair Vladimir Žavoronkov says, adding that this was 'purely for political purposes'.
Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise has criticized the holding of a Narva city council session, which took place predominantly in the Russian language, earlier this month.
As the state lacks the resources to develop a bilingual school system, the transition to all Estonian-language teaching will take place in the majority of educational institutions already during the new school year, Minister of Education Tõnis Lukas said at a press conference dedicated to the start of the school year.
Sessions at Narva council chambers which were held this week regarding the removal of the controversial tank monument were mostly conducted in the Russian-language rather than in Estonian, a situation which baffles Ilmar Tomusk, Director General of the Estonian Language Inspectorate (Keeleinspektsioon).