Tensions flare in Kaliningrad over school principal’s proposal for parents to learn Uzbek

The incident took place at School No. 7, where the principal’s suggestion arose after parents complained about migrant children with limited Russian language skills. In response to these concerns, the school director recommended that parents consider learning some basic Uzbek to better communicate with the children of migrants, many of whom struggle with Russian. This suggestion sparked outrage, with one parent escalating the issue to the nationalist organization "Russian Community," known for its anti-migrant stance.

The controversy intensified as some parents viewed the suggestion as inappropriate, while others defended the principal. One parent voiced strong opposition to the migrant children’s presence in local schools, stating that their inability to speak Russian was disruptive to the education system.

However, another parent came to the principal’s defense, stating that the director’s words had been taken out of context. "All children who are legally residing in the country have the right to an education, and no one has the right to deny them that," the parent explained. "Of course, the number of non-Russian-speaking children in one class should not be overwhelming, but sometimes there is no other option. The principal, Lyudmila Nikolaevna, was simply trying to encourage parents to empathize with migrant children, who have a harder time learning in a language unfamiliar to them. She half-jokingly mentioned that learning a few words in Uzbek might help support them."

The parent acknowledged that there are ongoing issues with aggressive behavior from some migrants in the city but suggested that local residents' dislike for migrants contributes to the problem.

This incident highlights the broader challenges faced by Russian schools, particularly in regions with large migrant populations, and the social tensions that arise from the integration of non-Russian-speaking students.