Court confirms teacher bullied student, media sued over coverage

The Voroshilovsky District Court confirmed that a teacher bullied schoolgirl Ornella Serkova. The girl studies at School No. 65. Teacher Oksana Gvozdkova called her «pig» and «nobody» and encouraged bullying of the child by other students.

After discussions of this story, the teacher herself went to court with a multi-million ruble lawsuit. The defendants included not only Ornella«s parents, but also deputy Natalya Oskina, the girl»s music teacher, as well as a journalist, editor-in-chief, and the publication 161.RU itself. We tell about the outcomes of the proceedings.

How did it all start?

In December 2024, the parents of student Ornella Serkova from School No. 65 contacted the editorial office of 161.RU. They told that their daughter became a victim of bullying when she was in the fourth grade (2023/2024 school year — Ed.). According to them, the bullying of the girl was orchestrated by her teacher Oksana Gvozdkova. This was preceded by a conflict with the family over medical certificates and after-school activities.

The parents complained that the schoolgirl was not given study printouts like other children, was not allowed to write down homework, was moved to a back desk where she couldn«t see the board. In response, the Serkovs stopped contributing money for class needs. This became the escalation point of the conflict. As the parents claim, Gvozdkova turned other children against Ornella. Then the girl started recording what was happening in class on a dictaphone.

— The principal [Marina] But approached my husband and said: «Switch to another class, I»ll give you A«s.» How low can one sink? We want to earn [A«s] with our own heads. I want my child to study, — said the girl»s mother Oksana Shpankina.

All news about the conflict at School No. 65 we collected in a separate story.

The parents filed complaints with officials and the prosecutor«s office. At a commission, Gvozdkova was given a reprimand, but the fact of bullying was not confirmed.

— After the commission, nothing changed, it got even worse, — said the girl«s mother Oksana Shpankina.

Then Ornella herself was accused of attempting to attack a classmate with a utility knife and stepping on a classmate«s foot. Because of this, a commission with representatives from the Juvenile Affairs Division was convened. But due to lack of evidence, these stories did not proceed further.

Also, the teacher found the fourth-grader«s personal, not school, diary and read entries from it in front of other students. Later, in court, she stated that she did this »accidentally«.

The climax of the story was Ornella being beaten by classmates. Other children called Gvozdkova to the hallway to help the girl, but she allegedly did not react.

— With their [children«s] hands she decided to destroy our family and our child like this, — the Serkov family believes.

Whose voice was on the recordings and the parents« lawsuit against the school

In the fifth grade, Ornella got a new homeroom teacher and subject teachers. Studies and communication with peers improved. But the parents still decided to sue the school. They demanded that it compensate 250,000 rubles (approximately $2,500) for moral damages. The proceedings began in autumn 2024 in the Voroshilovsky District Court.

Our first material about the conflict at school was published on December 17, 2024. We requested comments from principal Marina But and teacher Gvozdkova. Both refused to communicate.

— While court proceedings are ongoing, I won«t be able [to talk]. As soon as they end, I will schedule a meeting with you, — wrote Oksana Gvozdkova to a 161.RU correspondent in December 2024.

The proceedings in the Voroshilovsky District Court dragged on for almost a year. One of the main pieces of evidence in the case was audio recordings made by Ornella during lessons. Gvozdkova said that it was not her voice on them. The court ordered a phonetic examination. The school and teacher refused it and even complained to the Rostov Regional Court. But it did not side with them.

— If you say that it«s not her voice, then, on the contrary, let»s send it for examination, and it will be confirmed. Why do you constantly obstruct this? What are you afraid of? — reasoned the girl«s mother then.

The schoolgirl«s family paid for the examination. They waited eight months for its results.

— We paid for a state examination that confirmed that on the recordings where our daughter is humiliated, it is the teacher«s voice, — later shared with 161.RU the results by Ornella»s father Boris Serkov.

The wait for the court decision was delayed by several more weeks. The fact is that Gvozdkova, like school representatives, did not come to hearings, citing health problems.

— The court cannot make a decision when one of the parties is on sick leave. This decision will be overturned. Therefore, the court requested information on whether there is an official sick leave, — said Ornella«s mother Oksana Shpankina.

On November 27, 2025, the Voroshilovsky District Court announced the decision. The demands for material compensation were partially satisfied. The school was ordered to pay 25,000 rubles (approximately $250) to each parent, and also reimburse the costs of the phonetic examination.

— We are very pleased with the decision, — the girl«s mother told 161.RU after the hearing.

Lawsuit for 15 million rubles against the publication, deputy, and music teacher

In summer 2025, teacher Oksana Gvozdkova herself applied to the Kirovsky District Court. In a 350-page lawsuit for protection of honor and dignity, she made claims for a total amount of 15 million rubles (approximately $150,000). The defendants became Ornella«s parents, as well as the publication 161.RU, separately journalist Alina Zayarnaya and editor-in-chief Alexandra Shevchenko, deputy of the City Duma Natalya Oskina, and Ornella»s teacher at music school Anna Oganesova.

Deputy Oskina and teacher Oganesova became defendants due to comments to the portal 161.RU. The people«s representative warned that bullying a child in school could lead to irreparable consequences. Music teacher Oganesova shared her experience of communicating with the Serkov family and lessons with the schoolgirl. By the way, besides her, there were comments from other teachers in the material, but Gvozdkova did not file lawsuits against them.

In the lawsuit, Oksana Gvozdkova mentioned 11 of our materials about the conflict at school. She demanded their refutation and removal from the site.

— In all 11 published articles, the defendants spread slander, other unreliable information and false facts that discredit the honor and dignity of a citizen, the business reputation of a teacher with 34 years of work experience in the specialty, — stated in the lawsuit.

When the teacher went to court, the results of the phonetic examination had not yet been published. Therefore, the Kirovsky District Court still postponed consideration to await the results of the case in the Voroshilovsky court.

— They postponed the case in Kirovsky until the decision in Voroshilovsky. Although by all laws they couldn«t refuse — these cases do not intersect, — wrote Gvozdkova then on her social networks.

She hinted at the court«s unfairness and that it was bribed by »rotten people.« However, she soon deleted the post and closed her social media profile.

The teacher and her lawyers challenged the postponement of the case consideration, and their complaint was accepted. But by that time, the examination was just ready.

At Gvozdkova«s requests, in the Kirovsky District Court, a child — Ornella»s former classmate — was questioned. The boy was asked to recall the period of study in the fourth grade.

The judge suggested that the parties go for a settlement agreement, but this did not happen. On January 20, a decision was made. All of Gvozdkova«s claims were denied.

— A lawsuit for a rather large amount was filed against us. They justified the demands by saying that the disseminated information discredits honor and dignity and does not correspond to reality. We are not against that it discredits honor and dignity, yes, that«s the case. But our position is that this information corresponds to reality. Therefore, there should be no compensation and no removal of materials, — comments 161.RU lawyer Timur Valiyarov.

He reminds that the recordings captured «at least» inappropriate treatment of the teacher towards the child.

— The recordings confirm the words that are in the text. I note that some of the plaintiff«s demands were rather strange. It gave the impression that the lawyers wanted to sue for »everything« in the hope that at least something would »hit.« For example, the local deputy is listed among the defendants. In her comment to the site, there is not a word about the plaintiff. She answers our general questions about bullying in schools. It»s unclear why this person was made a defendant. Therefore, I think the judge came to the conclusion that the information in our publications corresponds to reality. We will learn more specifically when the court decision is published, — concludes Timur Valiyarov.

Simultaneously with the proceedings in court, Oksana Gvozdkova wrote a statement to the Investigative Committee against journalist Alina Zayarnaya. She accused the correspondent of slander. The police conducted a check, and the reporter was interviewed. The publication was not notified of the check results. But no criminal case was reported against the journalist.

«Distorted notion of honor.» What is the outcome?

Both the school, the teacher, and the parents continue court proceedings, but already in appeal. On February 18, the Rostov Regional Court will consider the complaint against the decision of the Voroshilovsky District Court.

— To our deep regret, I want to explain to the teacher and school principal that people who have honor and dignity would never have brought the matter to court proceedings. Just some distorted notion of honor. These are people who are called to teach our children, they are responsible for unformed souls. What can they teach them? — said to 161.RU the girl«s father Boris Serkov.

Ornella«s parents share that now the girl is doing well, she gets along with classmates and teachers, studies well. But they are fighting not so much for their daughter, but against the system.

— It«s not about a specific child, but about the education system in the form we see it today, — says Boris Serkov.

If the decisions of both courts come into force, the parents plan to bring coverage of this topic to federal television and contact the police. According to them, they warned Oksana Gvozdkova and her lawyers of their intentions. To which they allegedly received the response: «It»s a bluff.«

— One should think about honor and dignity earlier. When preventing such situations. With a competent approach and resolving the issue within the school walls, — commented on the outcomes of the proceedings in a conversation with 161.RU deputy Natalya Oskina.

She points out that even significant work experience is not a justification for bullying a child.

— For many years, there has been a vicious practice in schools of hushing up these problems, rather than resolving conflicts and preventing them. Psychologists for show. Tests — for reports. Conflicts are not mitigated, but ignored. As a result — lack of tact, professionalism, ordinary desire to achieve one«s own and an attempt to protect a person of the system by any means, — concludes Natalya Oskina.

We contacted Oksana Gvozdkova to get her comment, but she did not respond to our message. No one answered the correspondent«s calls at the school.