The ‘International Russian School’, operating in Turkey’s Antalya region since 2004, has been issuing invalid documents in Russia, RIA Novosti reports, citing the General Consul of Russia in Antalya, Mirdjalol Khusanov. The documents are not recognized in Russia, although the school headteacher insists that the education program corresponds to the general Russian program.
Khusanov said that the consulate-general requested the authorities of Antalya to take down the Russian flag from the school, as it is not an official Russian center.
The newspaper ‘Sabakh’ reported that Victor Bikkiniov, the head of the school, who became a citizen of Turkey and changed his name to Zafer Bikenoglu, told Maria Cherepanova, who wanted her son to study at the school, that her child will be able to continue his studies after returning to Russia.
Cherepanova said that she paid $4,500 for tuition in the 7th grade and $4,300 for the 8th. Russian diplomats helped her son receive documents.
Most of the school's students are from Kazakhstan. Another problem of the school is the teachers. According to ‘Sabakh’, Tatyana Kuzina, a teacher of primary classes, married to a Turkish citizen, said that her colleagues from Russia only manage to work until their visas expire and that the school does not have a license for professional work.
The head of the Department of Education, Osman Nuri Gulay, said that the school is operating on the basis of permission from the Ministry of Education of Turkey and is an official education center. The diplomas it issues are recognized in Turkey.
However, he said that the latest information about the school has triggered an investigation into the issue.
