The letter protested against the forceful expansion of the domain of usage of the Russian language and against its intensified teaching, which had been going on since 1978. It was part of the Russification policy, which had gradually intensified since the passing of the new constitution of the Soviet Union in 1977.
See oli osa venestuspoliitikast, mis oli süvenenud alates NSV Liidu uue konstitutsiooni vastuvõtmisest 1977. a. Konstitutsioon kehtestas ühe eesmärgina nõukogude rahva loomise, mis pidi sulandama NSV Liidu rahvad venekeelseks tervikuks.