From 2009 to 2012, the Council of Europe, the European Union and the Russian Federation implemented a Joint Programme “Minorities in Russia: Developing Languages, Culture, Media and Civil Society” which aimed, inter alia, at providing assistance to different public authorities that would be involved in the future ratification and implementation of the Charter.

During the programme, the application and monitoring of the Charter in Russia has been simulated in pilot regions, for example in the Altai Kray. In addition, a Joint Working Group was established which discussed, at experts’ level, the legal, political and inter-ethnic aspects related to the ratification. A proposal for a draft instrument of ratification prepared by independent experts was discussed at meetings of the Joint Working Group in 2011 and published afterwards.

Download proposal for a draft instrument of ratification