A Vladivostok sixth-grader fell into a coma after she and three classmates celebrated the start of the new school year Thursday by drinking two bottles of moonshine, local news agency Deita.ru .
The parents of the 12 year old, whose name was withheld, discovered her unconscious beside a garage near their house, the report said. She was rushed to the hospital and remained in critical condition Thursday.
The other three girls managed to stumble home safely, Deita.ru added.
The girls bought the suspicious vodka from the store nearest to their school, a police spokesperson said.
Police are searching for the owner of the store, which did not have a permit to sell hard alcohol, and are prepared to charge the saleswoman with selling alcohol to minors.
Another local news agency, Primorye 24, posted a on its YouTube page Thursday of five young schoolgirls staggering along a residential road. It remained unclear whether these were the same girls who poisoned themselves with moonshine.
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.
