Director of Narva Language Gymnasium fired amid political controversy

Nadežda Tšerkašina, director of Narva Language Gymnasium and member of Narva City Council representing Keskerakond, was dismissed from her position on Friday. The newly dismissed director has called the decision politically motivated retaliation.

Nadežda Tšerkašina, the director of Narva Language Gymnasium and a sitting member of Narva City Council representing the Centre Party (Keskerakond), lost her job on Friday. The dismissal has quickly sparked controversy in the northeastern Estonian city.

Tšerkašina herself has rejected any professional grounds for the termination, characterising the move as politically motivated retaliation. Her dual role as both a school administrator and a local elected official has placed the firing at the intersection of education and local politics in Narva.

The case is drawing attention in Ida-Virumaa, where questions about the independence of school leadership from political pressures have long been a sensitive topic. No official explanation for the dismissal has been made public at this time.