On September 17, 2026, the Sormovsky District Court of Nizhny Novgorod handed down a guilty verdict against the former principal of Municipal Budgetary General Education Institution "School No. 117," Tatyana Feoktistova, in connection with a stabbing that took place at the school in March 2025.[1][2]

Background

On March 11, 2025, during a Russian language class at School No. 117 in the Sormovo District, a 14-year-old eighth-grader pulled out a knife and stabbed two classmates in the neck. Both victims survived.[3] According to investigators, the grounds for the criminal prosecution of the principal were her order to remove the stationary metal detectors from the school entrance — it was this decision that allowed the student to bring a bladed weapon onto school premises unchallenged.[2][4] According to a source at Vremya N, the teenager had brought two knives into the school.[2]

A criminal case was opened against the attacker on charges of attempted murder of two persons. In April 2026, the court sentenced the teenager to four years' imprisonment to be served in a juvenile correctional facility.[1][4]

Verdict

Feoktistova was found guilty under sub-clauses (v), (d), and (e) of Part 3, Article 286 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation — the commission by an official of actions that manifestly exceed the bounds of their authority, resulting in a material violation of the rights and legitimate interests of citizens, committed with the infliction of grave consequences, against minors, and motivated by other personal interest.[2]

The court sentenced her to three years and two months of imprisonment, suspended, with a two-year probationary period. In addition, she is barred for two years from holding positions involving administrative, financial, or executive authority in state bodies and local self-government bodies.[1][2] At the time of sentencing, the verdict had not yet entered into legal force.[4]

Sources

  1. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Former principal of Nizhny Novgorod School No. 117 receives suspended sentence in stabbing case — Nizhny Novgorod News (archive)
  2. Vremya N — Former principal of School No. 117 in Nizhny Novgorod sentenced
  3. Zhivyom v Nizhnem — Former principal of Nizhny Novgorod School No. 117 convicted over injured pupils — Zhivyom v Nizhnem
  4. Newsroom24 — Former school principal in Nizhny Novgorod receives suspended sentence — Society