✉️ President of Russia Vladimir Putin sent a message of greetings to participants in the celebrations marking the Day of the Languages of the Peoples of the Russian Federation (September 8, 2026) 💬 It is symbolic that this new holiday, timed to coincide with the birthday of Rasul Gamzatov – a great son of Dagestan and of our multinational Fatherland – is being celebrated for the first time during the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia. Our country is home to representatives of nearly 200 peoples and ethnic groups, living together in friendship and harmony. Their languages, distinctive traditions and customs are our common heritage and Russia’s true wealth. This is why the preservation of our ethnocultural and linguistic diversity is a state priority. Specialised textbook series are being developed, literature in national languages and schools of literary translation are being supported, while much-needed educational, information, outreach and creative projects are being implemented. ☝️ I would like to emphasise that, while preserving our distinctive languages, it is important to remember that the Russian language serves as a unifying bond for all our peoples. It was instrumental in shaping Russia as a single multinational state and, for centuries, has facilitated the mutual enrichment of cultures and fostered traditions of good-neighbourliness and mutual understanding among our peoples. I am confident that the current celebrations will take place in a festive atmosphere and will be long remembered by participants and guests alike. 🤝 I wish you every success and all the very best. VLADIMIR PUTIN