Parents of first-graders in Sochi demanded safe conditions from the school principal.

In Sochi, a conflict has erupted between the administration of School No. 28 in Adler and the parents of future first-graders. The reason was the school's decision to hold a ceremonial line on September 1 in a closed space without allowing most parents to attend. Parents managed to cancel the celebration in the hall with panoramic glazing due to concerns for children's safety in the context of drone attacks, but the option to hold the celebration in the school foyer also did not suit them.

The conditions of the school line became the cause of the conflict

The conflict at Adler School No. 28 began after teachers sent a message to parents of future first-graders in a chat about the school's administration's decision to hold a ceremonial line for Knowledge Day on the 4th floor of the building, - said the mother of one of the first-graders Elena. In the assembly hall with panoramic glazing. About 150 children were planned to be gathered for the celebration without parental accompaniment, which was completely prohibited,” she told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".

"How can educators in such a difficult time, when drone attacks are constant, not take into account the safety of our children? Parents considered this decision a direct threat to the life and health of six- and seven-year-old children in the context of regular drone attacks (UAVs) and the activation of air raid sirens in the coastal area of Sochi," said another child's mother, who introduced herself as Snezana.

"We drafted a collective appeal to the principal Larina Babina, which was signed by 11 people - activists representing the interests of groups of all parents, 150 children, noting that if she refuses to move the festive line to a safe place, we will contact the Department of Education of Sochi, the Ministry of Education of the Krasnodar Territory, and the prosecutor's office," said the father of a future first-grader Maxim. (a copy of the appeal is available to the "Caucasian Knot".)

Parents presented arguments against the line in the hall with panoramic glazing

The assembly hall is located on the 4th floor of the building and has panoramic glazing around the entire perimeter, parents indicated in their appeal.

"In the current operational situation, conducting a special military operation and regular risks of air attacks (including threats of UAV use) and the activation of sirens, being in a room with a large area of glazing on the upper floor poses a direct threat to the life and health of children. If the glass shatters from the shock wave or fragments, children could suffer serious injuries. There will be 150 minor children (6-7 years old) at the line, who are entering the school for the first time... A small number of present educators physically will not be able to coordinate and safely evacuate 150 frightened toddlers from the 4th floor to shelter," the statement says.

Parents interviewed by the correspondent explained that the Adler district is in a zone of increased risk.

"In Sochi, almost daily, a danger of UAV attacks is announced, sirens are wailing, and air defense systems are operational. Adler is the area where drones most frequently arrive. Herding 150 small children to the 4th floor under a glass roof and walls is absolute negligence. If the glass is blown out by the wave, it will be a disaster. It's even scary to think about it," said the mother of a first-grader Irina.

"Our children are stepping into school for the first time; they do not know the building or the teachers, noted Victoria. If the siren wails, panic will ensue. Even if teachers want to, they simply will not be able to physically lead 150 frightened toddlers down from the 4th floor," she pointed out.

We were counting on a celebration, but in the end, we faced absolute indifference, says Alexander.

"Why should our children's first bell be accompanied by fear and separation from their parents? We just want to be with our children on this day and know that they are safe, but now we have learned that the children are being moved to the first floor in the foyer after our protest, but we will be barred from entering there. This was again made up by the school principal, as the teachers of future first-graders informed us," said Alexander, adding that parents have been under stress from the situation for several days.

"No one explains anything to us. Decisions are made behind closed doors, without consulting the parent community, - complains the father of a first-grader Roman.

"If the administration is unable to organize a safe celebration with the participation of parents, we simply will not let the children attend this line. We do not intend to leave our first-grader alone in a closed space in such a situation, and other parents have made the same decision," said the father of one of the first-graders Sergey.

The transfer of the line to the foyer also did not satisfy parents

After the information about the parents' appeal reached the Department of Education of Sochi addressed to the head Olga Medvedeva, the school principal Larina Babina today changed the venue of the line, moving it from the 4th floor of the assembly hall to the foyer on the 1st floor. However, a strict ban on the presence of parents was maintained.

This decision provoked a new wave of discontent. On August 27, parents of first-graders sent a repeated official statement to the principal of School No. 28 (a copy is available to the "Caucasian Knot") demanding copies of local acts and legal grounds for the restrictions.

In the document, the parent committee of future first-graders refers to Articles 29 and 44 of Federal Law No. 273-FZ "On Education in the Russian Federation" and Federal Law No. 59-FZ "On the Procedure for Considering Appeals from Citizens of the Russian Federation." "We request an official written justification for the introduced restriction on the presence of first-graders' parents at the ceremonial line on September 1. Indicate the specific articles of laws, regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation, decisions of the Operational Headquarters of the region, or the Anti-Terrorism Commission of the subject of the Russian Federation. Provide a certified copy of the local regulatory act (order, directive of the school principal) regulating the special access regime," it states.

The school administration explained the restrictions by the position of the regional authorities

The principal of School No. 28 in Sochi, Larina Babina, confirmed the transfer of the event to the foyer but emphasized that the current instructions do not allow all parents to attend the line inside the building.

"We moved the line for first-graders to the foyer thanks to the parents, although we could have held it on the 4th floor in the assembly hall. There is a suitable place on the 4th floor, the room is large and has shelter from UAVs. But we moved it to the foyer on the 1st floor. Now there will be a line there, but only 1-2 parents from the class can attend, not all. Why? Because there is no room for everyone in the foyer. They themselves write in the complaint that we have 150 first-graders. Where can we accommodate them all? It is no longer possible to hold lines outside. And this is not my personal whim, as parents think, it is clearly stated in the documents, this is a regional decision, the anti-terrorism commission decides that lines are held all in the building and we can only hold them in the assembly hall or in the foyer. So we moved it to the foyer, but then without parents," she explained to the correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".

How legitimate the school's references to the decisions of regional authorities are and whether educational institutions have the right to restrict parents' access was explained by lawyer Igor Belov.

Decisions on holding ceremonial events on September 1 in closed premises (assembly halls, sports halls, recreation areas, and foyers) are indeed made by regional and municipal Anti-Terrorism Commissions (ASh / ATK) of the Krasnodar Territory as part of strengthening security measures and the current medium level of response. Such recommendations and protocols from the ATK are sent to educational management bodies and obligate school leaders to organize access control and exclude mass gatherings of people in open areas.

However, the principal's oral reference to "regional documents" does not replace the school's obligation to send parents a written response indicating the details of a specific order or regulatory act, which is directly provided for in Article 44 of the Federal Law "On Education in the Russian Federation," emphasized Belov.

"According to Article 64 of the Family Code of the Russian Federation and Article 44 of the Federal Law "On Education in the Russian Federation," parents are the legal representatives of their minor children and have a priority right to protect their rights and legitimate interests. The introduction of a special access regime based on the orders of the school principal is allowed for anti-terrorism protection (within the framework of Federal Law No. 35-FZ "On Countering Terrorism" and the Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1006). Nevertheless, the complete isolation of parents of 6-year-old children on the day of their first visit to school creates a conflict of legal norms: the school is obliged to ensure safety (Article 41 of the Federal Law "On Education"), but cannot violate the basic rights of parents to accompany minor children without providing alternative safe solutions, such as dividing the lines into several shifts or classes so that there is enough space in the foyer for both children and parents," believes Belov.

The paradox of "safety indoors" and lessons from tragedies

Parents and the lawyer point out the "pedagogical practice" of recent years of herding hundreds of children into enclosed spaces inside buildings.

12:16 01.09.2025

Terrorist attack in Beslan (September 1-3, 2004)

The hostage-taking at School No. 1 in the city of Beslan (North Ossetia), carried out by terrorists on the morning of September 1, 2004, during the ceremonial line dedicated to the beginning of the school year, is one of the most terrible terrorist acts in human history. As a result of the hostage-taking and the spontaneous operation to free them, 334 people died.

Parents recalled the tragedy of the Beslan school in 2004, where hundreds of hostages were blocked in a closed space, in the school gym. They believe that this tragedy experienced by the country should have taught decision-makers that blocking people in an enclosed space during an emergency sharply increases the risk of mass casualties and panic. In the event of a UAV arrival or the collapse of building structures, being in the foyer or assembly hall does not guarantee protection, and the absence of parents nearby only deprives children of psychological support and operational assistance during evacuation.

Lawyer Igor Belov believes that considering the parents' concerns, the administration of School No. 28 could have found a compromise solution without violating safety requirements.

"For example, it is possible to organize class-specific lines in several shifts. For instance, separately for each first grade, which would allow accommodating both the children and their parents in the foyer or another safe room on the first floor. If there are technical capabilities, organizing a live broadcast for parents in adjacent rooms on the first floor or in the schoolyard under strict control of rescue services," he believes.

Parents of first-graders at Sochi School No. 28 are waiting for an official response to their statement from August 27 and declare their readiness to contact the prosecutor's office if the rights of families to safety and parental participation in the celebration are ignored.