Knowledge of the Estonian language and the Estonian citizenship influence the integration of Russian-speaking residents of Estonia in a positive way

In the summer and autumn of 2007, Statistics Estonia conducted a survey assessing the attitudes and convictions which serve as prerequisites of integration.

In the estimations of the population who speak Russian at home there appeared great differences regarding the attitude to the Estonian language and its use depending on the fact whether a particular person had the Estonian citizenship, whether he/she could speak the Estonian language or not. For example, slightly more than 70% of the persons having the Estonian citizenship and the respective language knowledge, were of the opinion that the Estonian language could be the primary communication language in Estonia. Only half of the persons without the Estonian citizenship and without the respective language knowledge agreed to that. 90% of the Russian-speaking Estonian residents with the Estonian citizenship and the respective language knowledge agreed that the population permanently residing in Estonia should have knowledge of the Estonian language. Slightly more than 70% of the persons without citizenship and without knowledge of the Estonian language held the same opinion.

Knowledge of the Estonian language and possession of the Estonian citizenship make the homeland perception of the persons who speak Russian at home considerably more similar to that of the Estonian-speaking persons, and they feel more strongly as a part of the Estonian society as well. 40% of the Russian-speaking population without citizenship and without knowledge of the Estonian language considered some other country as their homeland, whereas only 12% of the persons with the knowledge of Estonian language and with citizenship held this opinion.

Perception of homeland and belonging to the society of the Russian-speaking Estonian residents