An award-winning teacher was reportedly fired from his school job in the Moscow region for running for public office as a candidate from an opposition party.
Alexander Demakhin, who was awarded the “Teacher of the Year” prize personally by Vladimir Putin in 2012, says in a Facebook post he was fired from his school job in the town of Sergiyev Posad after he began his campaign in municipal elections as a member of the opposition Yabloko party.
He wrote he spent 21 years at the school, first as a student and then as a teacher.
“I learned today that, starting Sept. 1, I no longer will be working at [my] Sergiyev Posad school," he wrote. "The reason is my participation in Sergiyev Posad’s public life on a platform that makes the local authorities unhappy."
In a press statement the head of the Sergiyev Posad district, Mikhail Tokarev, denied the claims, saying Demakhin had resigned voluntarily because he had been too occupied with work at a local theater.
On Thursday, the election commission will decide whether Demakhin can register as a candidate in the municipal elections.
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.
