Support The Moscow Times!

Teacher Accused of Taping Child's Mouth Shut

A schoolteacher from Russia's republic of Chuvashia is under investigation on suspicion of maltreating her pupils, aged between six and eight, the Investigative Committee said Monday.

The 27-year-old teacher, who worked at a primary school in the village of Komsomolskoye, taped shut the mouth of one pupil and wrote "2" — a failing grade in the Russian school system — on the foreheads of four other students, regional investigators said in a statement.

The unidentified teacher also forbade her second-graders from sitting down during her lessons, forcing them to take notes while standing, the statement said.

The teacher warned her pupils against discussing the incidents — which occurred between 2012 and 2014 — with their parents and other adults, according to investigators.

If charged and convicted of maltreatment, the woman faces up to three years in prison and could be banned from teaching for up to five years.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

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.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more