Lauge Risom Koch 
Two schools in Russia’s Tomsk region have banned students from wearing clothing with foreign-language inscriptions, citing concerns over radicalisation and antisocial behaviour.
Two schools in Russia’s Tomsk region have introduced rules banning students from wearing clothing featuring foreign-language inscriptions.
The restrictions have sparked debate over whether local authorities are overinterpreting regional guidance.
New restrictions
According to Meduza, the Gubernatorial Svetlensky Lyceum introduced changes to its internal regulations on May 15.
The updated rules prohibit students from wearing clothing displaying text in foreign languages unless the wording is part of a registered trademark and complies with “Russian law and the principles of universal human decency.”
The order reportedly referenced recommendations issued by the Tomsk region’s Department of Education, though the original directive has not been published publicly.
Another school in the town of Kedrovy issued a similar ban.
Security justification
School No. 1 in Kedrovy said the restrictions were aimed at countering the promotion of “unlawful behavior, radicalization, and antisocial ideas.”
According to Meduza, the page containing the order on the school’s website later became unavailable and displayed a “page not found” message.
The measures come amid broader efforts in Russia to promote patriotic and Russian-language-focused policies in education and public life.
The schools have not publicly clarified how the rules will be enforced.
Regional response
Ilya Leontyev, deputy speaker of the Tomsk regional legislature and deputy secretary of the local United Russia branch, suggested the situation required further review.
“I would not rule out that local officials may have interpreted the regional education department’s recommendations somewhat too literally or not entirely correctly,” he said.
Leontyev added that an official explanation from the education department should be awaited before drawing conclusions.
The Tomsk regional Department of Education has not yet publicly commented on the controversy.
Sources: Meduza
