St. Petersburg School's Unusual Purchases
The focus is on the contracts of School No. 127, located in Krasnogvardeysky District on Udarnikov Avenue. The institution with advanced English language studies received a new building for 1,357 students in 2025 at Radlovskaya Street.
Holiday Decorations and Equipment
Ahead of the New Year, the school ordered two artificial spruces ranging from 2 to 3 meters in height. The cost of each was 203.2 thousand rubles (approximately $2,000 at current rates). In addition, an outdoor garland was purchased for 575.5 thousand rubles (approximately $5,800), and the technical specifications lacked even basic parameters such as length.
To ensure privacy and darkening in the new building, several batches of roller blinds were purchased. The total amount of four contracts exceeded 7 million rubles (approximately $70,000). Specifically, 172 blinds cost 2.203 million rubles (approximately $22,000), and another 353 cost 3.348 million rubles (approximately $33,500).
Musical equipment included:
- Two drum sets for 100 thousand rubles each (approximately $1,000 each).
- Four electric guitars (one for 375.6 thousand rubles (approximately $3,800), two for 246 thousand rubles each (approximately $2,500)) and a bass guitar for 176 thousand rubles (approximately $1,800).
- A digital piano for 220 thousand rubles (approximately $2,200).
- Three acoustic systems: one for 74 thousand rubles (approximately $740) and two for 161 thousand rubles each (approximately $1,600).
Cleaning Equipment and Household Needs
To maintain cleanliness, the school purchased seven industrial wet vacuum cleaners: three for 250 thousand rubles each (approximately $2,500 each) and four for 297.6 thousand rubles each (approximately $3,000 each). In December, 100 toilet brushes were bought at once for 1,877 rubles each (approximately $19 each). Also included were 130 metal waste bins with a total cost of over 700 thousand rubles (approximately $7,000).
The main suppliers under state contracts were individual entrepreneurs:
- IP Andrey Malinin — 7 contracts worth 7.4 million rubles (approximately $74,000).
- IP Darya Pastukhova — 8 contracts worth 1.3 million rubles (approximately $13,000).
- IP Anastasia Vostrikova — 13 contracts worth 6.23 million rubles (approximately $62,300).
Investments in the Educational Process
In addition to household and holiday purchases, the school invested significant funds in modern educational equipment. For 9.33 million rubles (approximately $93,300), two robotics stations, five interactive holographic complexes, and a laser engraver were purchased.
Administration«s Position
School director Oleg Katrenko explained the high cost of toilet brushes by their anti-vandal qualities, and the large quantity by the presence of 108 toilets in the complex. Metal bins were also chosen for durability reasons. He refused to comment on other purchases, noting that all documentation has already been submitted to the prosecutor«s office.
The inspection was initiated after a complaint from a resident of Krasnogvardeysky District, sent on 27 January to the prosecutor«s office, the Accounts Chamber, and the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS).
The administration of Krasnogvardeysky District stated that all purchases are related to the commissioning in September 2025 of a new building with an area of 23 thousand square meters and were carried out strictly within the framework of Federal Law No. 44-FZ. «The equipment is necessary to ensure the normal operation and safety of a large educational complex,» explained the press service.
