SUMMARY:

This text is an interview with the Russian scholars Vlada Baranova and Kapitolina Fedorova, who discuss their attitude to World Russians, a concept that challenges the traditional monocentric view of the Russian language. By reflecting on their own linguistic experiences and the examination of how the language is used by diverse communities and migrants globally, Baranova and Fedorova advocate for a shift toward linguistic decentralization and the recognition of multiple legitimate regional variants. They argue that the rigid standardization and purism characteristic of Russian education and policy ignore the lived reality of multilingualism and lead to social exclusion. They call for a more inclusive language awareness that embraces diversity as a tool for overcoming ethnic discrimination and improving communication in vital sectors like health care and education.