Russia's Zakharova accuses Paris of double standards as French school protests mount
In short
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticised French authorities over human rights and accused them of double standards, citing reports of police clashes with high school pupils in France. The protests, organised by the Union of Lycéens, began in late September over teacher and medical staff shortages, crowded classes and scheduling. France's education minister said 190 pupils were injured, and President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency meeting on 6 October.
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Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticised the French authorities over human rights, citing reports of clashes between police and high school pupils in France. TASS reported that she commented on the reports of police confrontations with pupils, and Vedomosti and RIA Novosti carried her remarks. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Writing in her Telegram channel, Zakharova said, according to Vedomosti's account: “In Paris the police are apparently beating their own children. What about the concerns and human rights at the Élysée Palace? I don't hear Kaja Kallas and the other inhabitants of the ‘beautiful garden’ – speak up.” RIA Novosti reported her saying that French officials apply double standards, that “they always care about us”, and that they count only certain countries as part of what they call the civilised community. [ 2 , 3 ]
The protests referenced began in France in late September, organised by the pupils' union, the Union of Lycéens. According to Vedomosti, the protesters are demanding solutions to systemic problems in schools: shortages of teachers and medical staff, overloaded schedules, overcrowded classes and uncomfortable temperatures. [ 2 ]
On 5 October, French education minister Édouard Geffray said that 190 pupils had been injured during the protests, Vedomosti reported. On 6 October it became known that President Emmanuel Macron had convened an emergency meeting over the protests, according to the same outlet. The documents do not record any French response to Zakharova's remarks. [ 2 ]
TASS and RIA Novosti, both state outlets, focused on the Foreign Ministry's criticism, while Vedomosti added the background on the French protests. The injury figure and the details of the protesters' demands appear in only one document, and the other two refer to the clashes without providing numbers or locations. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The remarks add a Russian diplomatic complaint to an already tense French domestic dispute, turning a school protest into a point of friction between Moscow and Paris. The documents give no sign of a French response, so the practical consequences remain unclear. For readers outside the region, the exchange illustrates how school-level unrest can be drawn into wider diplomatic argument.
Key facts
- Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova commented on reported clashes between French police and high school pupils. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Zakharova wrote in her Telegram channel that police in Paris were “beating their own children” and asked what was happening with human rights at the Élysée Palace. [ 2 ]
- Zakharova said French authorities apply double standards, arguing they always scrutinise other countries. [ 3 ]
- Protests by French high school pupils began in late September, organised by the Union of Lycéens. [ 2 ]
- The protesters demand solutions to systemic problems in schools: shortages of teachers and medical staff, overloaded schedules, overcrowded classes and uncomfortable temperatures. [ 2 ]
- French education minister Édouard Geffray said on 5 October that 190 pupils were injured during the protests. [ 2 ]
- President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency meeting on 6 October over the protests, according to reports. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether French police clashed with pupils and whether 190 pupils were injured. Only one document reports these figures and it attributes them to reports and to the education minister; the other two documents refer only to “reports” of clashes without giving numbers.
- Whether Paris or any French official responded to Zakharova's remarks. None of the documents mention a French reaction.
- Exactly when the protests began and where the reported clashes took place. The documents say only “late September” and do not name a city or location.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Late September: protests by French high school pupils begin, organised by the Union of Lycéens. [ 2 ]
- 5 October: education minister Édouard Geffray says 190 pupils were injured during the protests. [ 2 ]
- 6 October: President Emmanuel Macron convenes an emergency meeting over the protests. [ 2 ]
- TASS reports that Zakharova commented on reports of police clashes with high school pupils in France. [ 1 ]
- Vedomosti publishes Zakharova's Telegram remarks along with background on the protests. [ 2 ]
- RIA Novosti reports Zakharova's claim that French authorities apply double standards. [ 3 ]