Under Lenin, the government gave small language groups their own writing systems. The development of these writing systems was highly successful, even though some flaws were detected. During the later days of the USSR, countries with the same multilingual situation implemented similar policies. A serious problem when creating these writing systems was that the languages differed dialectally greatly from each other. When a language had been given a writing system and appeared in a notable publication, it would attain 'official language' status. There were many minority languages which never received their own writing system; therefore, their speakers were forced to have a second language. There are examples where the government retreated from this policy, most notably under Stalin where education was discontinued in languages that were not widespread. These languages were then assimilated into another language, mostly Russian. During World War II, some minority languages were banned, and their speakers accused of collaborating with the enemy.
undEr leniN, the GOverNmEnT GAvE SmAlL lANGuAge gROuPs theiR own WRItInG sYSTems. THe development oF thESe wriTiNg sYStEms wAs hiGHly sUcCesSfUl, EvEn ThoUgh Some fLaws wEre Detected. DuRing ThE later daYs of The USSr, cOUNtrIeS WITH the same multilingual sITUaTIon impLemented SImilar poLicies. A serIoUs problEm WheN creatInG theSe WriTiNG Systems WaS tHat the langUageS dIffered dIalEctalLy gReaTly from each other. WhEn a lAngUage had been given A writing system aNd AppeaRed in a notaBle PublIcatiON, It wOulD ATTaIN 'ofFIcial languagE' staTus. There were many minority lAngUAgEs whiCH Never rECEIVEd tHEiR oWn Writing SysTEM; thEreFORe, TheiR SpEakerS weRE fOrcEd tO havE a seCoNd laNguAGe. TheRe ArE examPles WhEre the government rEtreaTED from thIs pOlicy, moST NOTably UNdeR staLin wherE eduCAtion Was DISconTInuEd In lAngUAges thAt were NOt wIdespRead. tHesE lanGUAges weRE TheN assimILated INto anoTHer lanGuage, mosTLy RuSsIan. DuRinG woRLd WaR iI, somE MInOrity lanGuAGes wEre BaNNEd, And theiR SpeAKeRs acCusEd oF colLaBOrAtinG with thE EneMY.