"There were 'red flags': Minister Puchkov on the murder of a teacher in Perm Krai"

      April 8, 2026 10:34 Society The Minister of Education of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, Mikhail Puchkov, commented on the tragedy that occurred the day before in the Perm Region, where a 17-year-old ninth grader attacked a Russian language and literature teacher with a knife. The woman later died. In his MAX channel, Puchkov called the incident a terrible tragedy and a heavy blow to the entire education sector. According to him, it is unlikely that there is a school where teachers are not discussing what happened and trying to find answers to numerous questions. The minister emphasized that until the verdict comes into legal force, a person cannot be considered a criminal from a legal standpoint. At the same time, he added that there is no and cannot be any justification for a person who commits such an act. A lot of different information has been published in the media and Telegram channels, which still needs to be verified. Puchkov expressed confidence that the competent authorities will investigate the circumstances of the incident. Speaking about possible causes, the minister stated that there were apparent "red flags" in the teenager's behavior, including skipping classes. "That is why we have actively started working on monitoring attendance and with systematic truants, so that such situations are not hidden or silenced," he wrote. Mikhail Puchkov added that if a student lies under the table during class, screaming uncontrollably and without reason, this is abnormal behavior. Such a child should not study alongside regular children, as this deprives both other students and himself of the opportunity for development. The minister added that a teacher cannot work effectively in such conditions, as standard pedagogical technologies of mass schools do not allow for resolving such a situation. "Inclusion can only go up to a certain level of a child's characteristics. Beyond that, it is torment for everyone and a possible path to tragedy," he noted. In conclusion, the minister expressed deep condolences to the family of the deceased teacher and the school staff, emphasizing that the entire educational community is mourning. It was previously reported that security measures have been strengthened in schools in Kstovo following reports of threats against educational organizations. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has a Telegram channel. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and operational information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+