International Russian-language private school Le Sallay goes bankrupt

At the end of April, an international private school Le Sallay, which educated Russian-speaking children, was shut down in a single day due to bankruptcy. Founder Sergei Kuznetsov announced the closure on Facebook, which sparked significant reactions on social media. Teachers and parents learned of the shutdown only minutes before classes were to begin.

At the end of April, an international private school Le Sallay, which educated Russian-speaking children, was shut down in a single day due to bankruptcy. The school's founder, writer and journalist Sergei Kuznetsov announced the closure on his Facebook page, which generated considerable response online.

The school's teachers, students and parents learned of the shutdown only minutes before classes were to begin – through a letter sent by management. This triggered a strong reaction: Kuznetsov was widely discussed on social media and was accused of both incompetence in business management and inadequate communication with the school community.

The founder's philosophy and criticism

According to explanations given to Meduza, the school's philosophy was based on the principle "there's no need to count money, what matters is growth" – which itself reflected the broader management style of the project. Over the years, Le Sallay managed to find support from investors and donors, which kept the school afloat longer than many had expected.

Statements from teachers and parents, along with numerous sharp comments from prominent social media users, painted a picture of a community that felt betrayed. Le Sallay was known for its unique pedagogical approach, which made its abrupt closure particularly painful for many.

What could have been done differently?

Meduza's analysis asks whether the school could have been saved. Although the project managed to attract investor support for years, it failed to ensure long-term financial sustainability. The bankruptcy points to a systemic problem that individual donors could not compensate for – and which suddenly put thousands of children and families in a difficult situation.