Kremlin calls French student protests an internal affair of France
In short
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the protests by French schoolchildren are France's internal affair and that Russia has “our own schoolchildren” to care for. He also said students who burn schools, bins and cars and attack police are “bad schoolchildren,” and referred a question about Western human rights advocates' silence back to them. The protests in France began in late September over teacher and medical staff shortages, overloaded schedules, crowded classes and uncomfortable temperatures; the French education minister said on 5 October that 190 schoolchildren had been injured.
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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the protests by French schoolchildren are France's internal affair, in comments reported on 7 October by RIA Novosti, RBC, Vedomosti and TASS. Answering a question about the protests in France, Peskov said, according to RBC, “we have our own schoolchildren.” [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Vedomosti quoted Peskov at greater length. He said Russia has “our own schoolchildren, Russian ones, whom we treasure and for whom both the government and the president are doing everything possible to further improve the education system, to open new education facilities, new schools, new educational centres.” He noted that President Vladimir Putin had recently opened an education centre in Yakutia built with private money, and that thousands of schools are commissioned and repaired every year, which he described as real action to keep the Russian education system at a high level and even ahead of the world. [ 3 ]
Peskov also said that “schoolchildren who burn their schools, rubbish bins, cars and attack police officers are bad schoolchildren,” Vedomosti reported. Asked why Western human rights advocates and European politicians remain silent while security forces maim minors during the protests in France, the Kremlin spokesman redirected the question, saying it should be put to those advocates themselves. [ 3 ]
According to Vedomosti, protests by French high school students began in late September, organised by the student union the Union of High School Students. The protesters demand solutions to systemic problems in educational institutions: a shortage of teachers and medical staff, overloaded schedules, overcrowded classes and uncomfortable temperatures. On 5 October, France's national education minister, Édouard Geffroy, said 190 schoolchildren had been injured during the protests. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The remarks show the Kremlin declining to engage with unrest in a European country while using the question to promote its own education spending at home. It also repeats Moscow's practice of raising the conduct of Western rights advocates and police toward protesters, without offering evidence of its own.
Key facts
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said everything happening in France is France's internal affair, commenting on protests by French high school students. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Peskov said Russia has “our own schoolchildren,” for whom the government and president are doing everything possible to improve the education system and open new schools and educational centres. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Peskov said President Vladimir Putin recently opened an education centre in Yakutia built with private money, and that thousands of schools are commissioned and repaired every year. [ 3 ]
- Peskov said schoolchildren who burn their schools, rubbish bins and cars and attack police are “bad schoolchildren.” [ 3 ]
- A question about why Western human rights advocates and European politicians stay silent while security forces maim minors during the protests in France was redirected by Peskov, who said it should be asked of those advocates themselves. [ 3 ]
- Protests by French high school students began in late September, organised by the Union of High School Students, demanding solutions to a shortage of teachers and medical staff, overloaded schedules, overcrowded classes and uncomfortable temperatures. [ 3 ]
- On 5 October, French national education minister Édouard Geffroy said 190 schoolchildren had been injured during the protests, Vedomosti reported. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the protests by French schoolchildren as France's internal affair. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Peskov said Russia has its own schoolchildren and that the authorities are working to improve the Russian education system, open new schools and open new educational centres. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- The current state and scale of the protests in France. The documents say the protests began in late September and cite an injury figure from 5 October, but none say whether the protests are continuing or how large they are.
- Peskov's remark that schoolchildren who burn schools, rubbish bins and cars and attack police are “bad schoolchildren.” The quote appears in only one document, Vedomosti's article.
- The redirection of the question about the silence of Western human rights advocates and European politicians over injured minors. Reported only by Vedomosti, and Peskov gave no answer of his own.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Protests by French high school students begin, organised by the Union of High School Students, demanding solutions to a shortage of teachers and medical staff, overloaded schedules, overcrowded classes and uncomfortable temperatures. [ 3 ]
- French national education minister Édouard Geffroy says 190 schoolchildren were injured during the protests. [ 3 ]
- RIA Novosti reports Peskov's comment that the French student protests are France's internal affair. [ 1 ]
- RBC reports Peskov's reply “we have our own schoolchildren” to a question about the protests in France. [ 2 ]
- Vedomosti publishes fuller quotes from Peskov, including his remarks on Russian education and on “bad” schoolchildren, along with background on the French protests. [ 3 ]
- TASS reports the Kremlin's reaction and Peskov's emphasis on efforts to improve education in Russia. [ 4 ]