The decision to send a group of school students from Uzbekistan’s Samarkand region to the well-known “Scarlet Sails” graduation celebration in Saint Petersburg has triggered strong public criticism. The controversy centers not on the trip itself, but on how the list of participants was formed and whether official selection criteria were followed in practice.
What is the “Scarlet Sails” celebration and why does it matter?
“Scarlet Sails” is a large-scale annual celebration traditionally organized for Russian school graduates in Saint Petersburg. It is widely recognized as a symbolic and prestigious event marking the completion of secondary education. In 2025, Russian authorities extended an official invitation to include foreign students, among them a delegation from Uzbekistan’s Samarkand region.
What were the official conditions for participation?
According to the formal invitation sent by the Russian side, a delegation of students from grades 9 to 11 from Samarkand region was expected to attend the celebration on June 28, 2025. Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs forwarded this invitation to regional and city authorities, attaching a key recommendation regarding the selection process.
The ministry emphasized that priority should be given to students with strong academic performance, as well as winners or active participants of national and international academic olympiads.
How was the delegation formed?
Following the invitation, the Samarkand Regional Department of Preschool and School Education submitted an official request to the Ministry of Preschool and School Education of Uzbekistan. The request sought approval to form a delegation consisting of 14 high school students and one responsible staff member within the quota offered by the Russian side.
Official documents indicated that, once approved by the ministry, the finalized list of participants would be submitted to the regional administration for confirmation.
What triggered public criticism?
According to information published by the Telegram channel Samarqand_LIVE, the initial list of participants reportedly included the son (born in 2014) and the nephew (born in 2011) of Muzaffar Hamdamov, head of the Samarkand Regional Department of Preschool and School Education. In addition, children of other department heads and responsible officials were said to be part of the group.
The source claimed that none of these students had participated in international academic olympiads, and some had not advanced beyond district or city-level competitions. It was also alleged that several of the students had low attendance rates and weak academic performance.
How did the education department respond?
In an official statement, the regional education department confirmed that an initial list of 14 gifted students and one responsible official had been prepared. However, the department explained that the list was later revised due to practical issues.
According to the statement, some students did not receive their international passports on time, while others were unable to participate because their parents did not grant permission for travel abroad. As a result, a final delegation of 8 top-performing students and 2 responsible staff members was formed.
The department also noted that Gulmira Salimova, described as a qualified specialist with strong Russian language skills, was appointed as an accompanying representative.
Which questions remain unanswered?
The official response did not address reports that the department head’s son and nephew were among the participants. Furthermore, no detailed information was provided about the academic achievements of the eight selected students or the specific olympiads in which they had allegedly excelled.
Why has this case drawn such attention?
The core concern raised by the public is straightforward: if talent, academic excellence, and olympiad achievements were the primary criteria for participation in an international event, why did this opportunity reportedly go to students connected to administrative leadership?
The apparent gap between formally declared requirements and real-life decisions has fueled skepticism about transparency in the education system and reinforced public perceptions that long-standing problems of favoritism and “old corruption” in schools remain unresolved.