ON THE SITUATION OF THE RUSSIAN LANGUAGE IN THE SOVEREIGN TAJIKISTAN: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF RUSSIAN LANGUAGE TEACHING IN THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF THE REPUBLIC
The paper presents an analysis of the situation with Russian language in Tajikistan, as well as the situation with its study in schools and universities of the country, where it is studied as a second language starting from the 2 <sup>nd</sup> class. Russian language remains as the main means of inter-ethnic communication in communicative language space of Tajikistan, in spite of a significant outflow of Russian-speaking population. The overwhelming majority of the Tajik intellectuals, including senior government officials, show a desire to preserve common with Russia's cultural, scientific and educational and information space.