Picket of the Movement "Accessible preschool education for Russian children" held in Volgograd

Activists of the movement "Accessible preschool education for Russian children" held a picket in Volgograd demanding to solve the problem of shortage of kindergarten places. The action took place within the nationwide day of protest.

Activists speak in favour of liquidation of the deficit of places in kindergartens and decent working conditions for educators and teachers. They also offer to return the kindergarten buildings used for other purposes back into the pre-school system of education.

"We're for 2.5 years on the waiting list," Maria Lupova, a protester, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "However, the prospects to get a place in the kindergarten are poor."

"To satisfy our waiting list, we need about 120 kindergartens. Naturally, they can't be built overnight. We understand that, but let them at least pay some compensation to us that we could send our children to commercial kindergartens," said Natalia Gunchenko, the organizer of the picket.

According to her story, the authorities perceived their demands "without enthusiasm". "They argue that the sum of compensation will be too great. It's easier to build kindergartens for this money. But why hadn't they done it before? Why had they brought the situation to such a limit?" she asked.

The protesters plan to take part in the nationwide hunger strike to take place after May 20.