Would it be the case that most citizens of both the Baltic and Balkan states would have a working knowledge of Russian or is that diminishing in the younger generations nowadays?
Would it be the case that most citizens of both the Baltic and Balkan states would have a working knowledge of Russian or is that diminishing in the younger generations nowadays?
That was exactly my point ClubMan - although I had intended to use the word Baltic instead of Balkan!
I'm well aware that Poland and Russia are not in the Baltic states and I didn't infer that they were. Russian could be used on signs as, in my understanding, Latvians, Lithuanians and Estonians do indeed have a working knowledge of this language. The few Poles that I have come into contact with also speak good Russian.
Let's get a few things straight here. Since when were Poland and Russia in the 'Balkan states'? When I went to school, the Balkans were confined to southern Europe, in particular Bulgarian regions - I assume you mean Baltic states - if so then both Poland and Russia are not in the Baltics.