A Moscow court arrested in absentia a former teacher of the Russian Academy of Arts Viktor Elizarov, suspected of pedophilia

The Khamovnichesky District Court of Moscow arrested in absentia Viktor Elizarov, a teacher of the Russian Academy of Arts, in the case of lecherous acts against minors (part 3 of Article 135 of the Criminal Code). Former students told about the teacher’s harassment.

“The court satisfied the investigation’s petition to choose a preventive measure against Elizarov in the form of arrest for two months from the moment of his arrest or extradition to the territory of the Russian Federation,” quotes agency “Moscow” press service of the court.

In November, former students of the Moscow Central Art School of the Russian Academy of Arts told The Village, that Elizarov touched their breasts, buttocks and persuaded them to have a sexual relationship. According to Ekaterina Gonkova, Elizarov had a “worked out scheme” – the teacher from the elementary grades singled out several students and “raised for himself as little mistresses.”

The teacher also instilled in the girls a sense of guilt so that they would not tell anyone about their harassment. “Elizarov directly stated that“ he wants me as a woman ”, that it is“ natural ”and that I’m“ myself to blame for causing such feelings in him, a man, because throughout history, artists fell in love with young models and students, ”added Gonkova …

Elizarov once said to another student that she was a “creature” and “harassed her sick mother,” who could die because of this. Having brought the girl to hysterics, the teacher began to “calm her down with stroking, and then forcibly put her on his lap and climbed into her panties.” “I will never forget this. The worst thing is that I didn’t even have a thought to tell someone about it – I was terribly ashamed, I felt guilty. He convinced me that I provoked him, ”said the victim.

The workshop leader practiced the “bell” game when he pressed his finger on the student’s nipple. If she expressed dissatisfaction, the teacher replied: “You are a fool, you only have sex on your mind.” He also accused the student of “paranoid thinking.”

Anyone who disagreed with Elizarov’s opinion was declared “too simple” or “not sophisticated enough.” Since acceptance is important for adolescents, this scheme worked great – everyone wanted to be in the circle of the “chosen ones,” said Anastasia Matveeva, who attended school from 2002 to 2010. She calls the atmosphere in her class “absolute sectarianism.”

According to Gonkova, Elizarov’s colleagues from the workshop “knew about almost everything and were covered up.” “Our teachers were also his wife, who knew that her husband was harassing students, more of all, two friends whom he invited to work in the workshop, and his former students,” she explained. Letters and complaints that reached the management of the educational institution were ignored.

In total, at least 15 of his former students complained about Elizarov. In the spring of 2021, the girls sent a statement to the school administration and the police. They clarified that the cases they described occurred between 2000 and 2013.

Some former students, on the other hand, stand up for Elizarov and signed petition in his defense. Others took years to reconsider their attitude towards the teacher and his actions. “I struggled through my respect and gratitude to Elizarov, realizing that children are still studying in his workshop, they need to be protected somehow, – said Gonkov to the Mel. “It took me 10 years to realize this whole situation.”