The co-founder and CEO of the nationally-known Russian School of Mathematics and a related summer camp for children is under fire from some parents and supporters of Ukraine.
In comments posted to a private Facebook page for the school's summer program that were later shared on other public platforms, Inessa Rifkin suggested that Ukraine’s president shared blame for the mounting civilian deaths caused by Russia’s invasion. Rifkin's post challenged those who support Ukraine, and said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy bore some responsibility for the loss of life there by refusing to "surrender peacefully" to Putin.
On the private RSM summer camp Facebook page, Rifkin wrote:
“Ukraine had a choice of surrender peacefully with min human casualties and min property loss to Putin. President Zelensky made a choice to fight back. He is risking not only his own life but by now thousands of civilians already lost their lives, among them a lot of children. On top of it almost 3,000,000 people become refugees. Theoretically one could argue that President Zelensky also, not only Putin, is responsible for human suffering. Was he right? Did he have a right to decide for other people’s children?"
According to RSM’s website, the school was founded in 1997 by Rifkin and Irina Khavinson in Massachusetts. Rifkin, born in Belarus, and Khavinson, from Ukraine, were immigrants from the Soviet Union. The first class was held in Rifkin's home in 1997 using methods from Soviet math academies. Two years later, the first dedicated school building opened in Newton. RSM grew nationwide and today includes more than 50 schools in 12 states, Washington DC, and Canada.
Immediately following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the school issued a statement condemning the war. But Rifkin's subsequent comments produced an immediate backlash, locally and nationally.
In the parking lot at RSM's building in Newton, Massachusetts, a woman dropping off her son said she had not heard about the controversy and was taken aback when told about the words attributed to the school's founder.
"It's unfortunate. I don't feel great about it." she said. "The school sent out an email that I felt was supportive of Ukraine earlier when the war first started. So that's not great."
She and others waiting in vehicles did not want their names used for this story. But Kathy Eno of Newton, whose daughter has attended RSM for 10 years, while praising the program also said it was important for those who disagree with Rifkin on this issue to speak out. GBH News reached her by phone.
"I vehemently disagree with her view on this topic, of course. And I've always had a lot of respect for her," said Eno. "But in this case, I'm completely opposed to this statement and I'm in agreement with the other parents that have also expressed the same. I think she runs a wonderful school, and I don't think this is the place for her to come out and say such divisive comments like this."
Another parent, Olena Stadykuk, went even further in her condemnation. Originally from Ukraine, Stadykuk said she no longer supports RSM. Speaking to GBH News from her home in Northern California, Stadykuk said Rifkin's stated position presumes that Zelenskyy had a real option in ending the bloodshed in her home country.
"I was really upset about it because that statement assumes that Ukrainians have the choice. And that statement assumes that surrendering is just a change in political power that doesn't cause any additional harm to people," she said.
GBH News attempted to get a response from Rifkin or other RSM officials in person at the school's Newton location and was greeted by campus principal Angela Eidelman, who requested we take a seat in the waiting room of the school and said that someone would be right out to speak with us about this controversy. Eidelman walked into an office with another staffer, closed the door, and emerged within minutes to say, "there is no one here to speak with you. But we will call you.” No one did, and all further inquiries from GBH News went unanswered.
In a follow-up statement on the school's Facebook page Tuesday, Rifkin addressed the concerns over her criticism of Zelenskyy:
"Two days ago, I posted a series of provocative questions in our Camp RSM group, a private Facebook group for families that attend my long-running overnight summer camp of 25 years. Unlike our school (in which politics is never discussed in our classrooms), my camp hosts 'serious nights' to allow campers to openly discuss current events.
The questions I proposed in the Camp RSM group were the starting points for discussion for one of these 'serious nights,' and were purposefully controversial in nature, as all of the questions I pose to my older campers are. Over the years, I have posed similar questions about the Holocaust, Israel, and many other topics. I am a teacher, and the purpose of these questions is always the same - to challenge my campers to think, to develop clear and logical arguments for not only their viewpoints but to also understand opposing viewpoints and how to argue against them."
Some parents pushed back against Rifkin's suggestion that her original statement was intended as an excercise in Socratic thinking, noting that her questions were preceded by "the following is my stand." The school's Facebook page was flooded with more than 500 comments, many critical of Rifkin and others defending her leadership, if not her contentious remarks. GBH News confirmed the authenticity of the comments quoted.
One indignant parent said she was from Ukraine and had already pulled her child out of RSM. Another individual identified as Igor Grunskiy asked, “Inessa Rifkin do you think you owe apology for all the damage and confusion caused by your choice of words?”
Someone named Anastasiya Qu wrote: “Asking question 'if Zelensky is responsible for people suffering' sounds like 'should rape victim be responsible for the rape'? And imagine this question is being asked by a doctor to a victim to promote critical thinking?'”
That statement assumes that surrendering is just a change in political power that doesn't cause any additional harm to people.Olena Stadykuk, Ukrainian immigrant and former RSM parent
But Rifkin also had her defenders.
A woman named Elena Ulanovski cheered Rifkin, addressing her by her nickname: “We with you Inna! Proud of you as always.”
Someone else named Yudit Bolotovsky wrote: “To the people who disagree or find negativity in Mrs. Rifkin’s posts or actions- totally their loss completely. Their kids can miss out on wonderful opportunities to grow and understand their culture.”
Alexander Sova, a Ukrainian immigrant whose children attend RSM in the San Francisco Bay area, said in a phone interview with GBH News that the positions held by Rifkin, who is open about having deeply conservative views, are no different than the views put forth by FOX News' Tucker Carlson and others in conservative media.
He said while he disagrees with Rifkin, he "would not blame her exactly right now. I think she is a victim of these conservative pundits and she made a mistake. And she kinda apologized." Sova added, "Inna has always said she is pro-Ukrainian and she did a lot of good stuff for Ukrainian refugees, but it's very possible to be for Ukrainians and still hold this position."
On Tuesday, the school re-issued its official statement on Ukraine made weeks ago that reflected RSM's co-founders' own experiences as Jewish refugees fleeing the Soviet Union.
"We are keenly aware that their fate could have been ours. It could have been our children, spouses, and siblings caught up in a war they didn't ask for," the statement read.
One commentator on Facebook said those words stood arguably in contrast to Rifkin’s assertion that Ukraine's President had an option to "surrender peacefully."
