A fifth-grade teacher in the city of Barnaul in western Siberia has been forced to abandon her post over photos showing her in a New Year’s dress, the sibreal.org news website reported Monday.
Language and literature teacher Tatyana Kuvshinnikova uploaded photos of herself in the dress to social media in December. She was pressured by school authorities to give up her position following complaints from a student’s parents to the school director.
“Only prostitutes dress up and take pictures with heels and a dress above the knees, and all for show! Who are you trying to lure?” the school director said in a letter to Kuvshinnikova in February, sibreal.org reported.
In the same letter, the school director called her a “stain on the reputation of the school” and said that her behavior encourages “pedophilia.”
While the school initially wanted to fire the teacher immediately following the complaints, she was allowed to remain after other parents voiced their support for her.
In March, three months after the photos were posted online, Kuvshinnikova decided to leave the school after colleagues “refused to greet her or look at her” and started to spread rumors about her “taking trash out of the dumpster.”
Update: The Altai region's Education Minister said Tuesday that he "did not see anything reprehensible in the photographs" of Kuvshinnikova, Interfax reported. He added that the ministry would work to find a new job for the teacher.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
