Balalaika Teacher Imitated Serial Killer, Strangled Children

In Yekaterinburg, a 33-year-old balalaika teacher strangled children with plastic bags for money. He invited students to his home and convinced them that he was checking their breathing. Artyom Sergeyevich had several social media accounts (all now blocked), one of which he registered under the name Anatoly Slivko — the name of a notorious Soviet serial killer and pedophile who strangled teenage boys with ropes.

Artyom led a children«s ensemble at one of the city»s schools. Children periodically complained about the teacher«s outbursts of aggression. But what happened in his apartment remained a secret to parents for a long time, until one of the students recorded a home lesson on video.

Here»s what is known about the teacher.

«He was an outcast in childhood»

Artyom started playing the balalaika in childhood. He was a musician in the school folk instrument orchestra. The boy stood out among his peers.

«It was visible that he looked disabled. Kind of ugly. He was never seen with friends or girls. When he was a schoolboy, he always walked alone. Perhaps he was an outcast in his class,» a neighbor told E1.RU. «He worked not only at school but also at the housing office, wearing their padded jacket.»

Artyom«s grandmother died many years ago, and in 2021 his mother passed away as well. He was left alone in the apartment — by age 33, the teacher had not started a family. He has no wife or children.

«After his mother died, he became bloated. He started showing the effects of bad habits, he could come to work smelling of alcohol. He began smoking openly. Before, he hid it from his mother — he respected her very much,» an acquaintance of Artyom said.

Artyom continued the teaching dynasty. He became a teacher, like his mother. Recently, he worked in the additional education department at School No. 17, where he not only taught balalaika courses but also supervised children in after-school programs. For many years, he led the children»s balalaika ensemble «Oberton».

«Very withdrawn, I would say, a kingdom of darkness, nothing was clear about him. But students always attended his courses with pleasure. They were really drawn to him,» a colleague of Artyom told E1.RU. «But when I found out what he was doing, it wasn«t a complete surprise to me. The quietest people are those from whom you can expect anything.»

«So he treated a runny nose»

When a video emerged from the teacher«s apartment showing Artyom sitting in front of a lying boy and holding a bag over his face, parents contacted the police. From there, the inspection materials were transferred to the Investigative Committee, which has so far refrained from commenting.

Acquaintances of the teenagers said that for the »breathing check« he promised children from 20,000 to 60,000 rubles (approximately $200 to $600 at current rates). According to them, several students fell for it.

It is known that investigators have opened a criminal case under the article »Involving a minor in actions dangerous to life« (Article 151.2 of the Russian Criminal Code). Artyom faces up to three years in a penal colony with a ban on his profession. He is under a written pledge not to leave.

After the publication of the choking videos, a former student of the balalaika teacher contacted E1.RU. He stated that at the beginning of his teaching career, the instructor at another school practiced not »breathing techniques« but »folk medicine methods« with children.

«In the third grade, I had already left the club, we were in the schoolyard with classmates. He approached me and called me over. We entered his small room, he asked if I wanted to return. Then he said: »Are you sick or something?« Allegedly, a doctor friend taught him to treat a runny nose. He closed the door, unbuttoned my pants, and touched my penis. And said: »Come back tomorrow, I«ll feel you up again. Just don»t tell anyone about this,«» the former student of the teacher shared.

According to the young man, he did not listen to the teacher and told his parents everything. They reported it to the principal. The teacher never showed up to meet with them or explain himself, but immediately resigned from the school.

«My mom and dad didn»t file a report. They didn«t want to traumatize my psyche by having me dragged through investigators. I met him in the neighborhood a few times after that. Once — I was already an adult, I approached him and asked: »Doesn«t your conscience bother you?» He said: «It does» and ran away,» the Yekaterinburg resident said. «When I saw his photo, I recognized him immediately. And my mother recognized him right away too.»

«Thank you for the support»

We tried to contact Artyom himself. But he declines calls and does not open the door to journalists.

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