The actor Dan Puric was invited on Monday, on the first day of the strike launched in education, to the college “Sfântul Sava”, where for two hours he gave a “conference” to the students about “adolescence, in today’s context”, according to the deputy director of institution, who is also a teacher of Orthodox religion at this high school. Dan Puric was invited on the occasion of the so-called “Green Weeks”, a project launched by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment. Dan Puric, an artist accused of being a philorus and an admirer of the dictator Vladimir Putin, refused to say what was the subject of the discussion with the students.
“It was absolutely an accident”, Silviu Evi, the trade union leader from “Sfântul Sava”, declared for digi24.ro, regarding the presence of Dan Puric in the high school. “There are no classes this week at Sava. It’s Green Week. There were two events (Monday), one from 9-11, with Dan Puric and there was another event from 11-14, with the Ministry of Education,” said the union leader.
Dan Puric admitted that he was at “Sfântul Sava”, at the invitation of the representatives of the national college, but did not elaborate on the theme of the conference and the discussions he had with the students.
“Are you a platoon leader? Are you investigating me?”, was Dan Puric’s reply.
What Puric can discuss with teenagers: “About life, about parents”
“There are activities within the high school. There were a lot of guests”, Silvia Fulaș, teacher of Orthodox religion and the current deputy director of the high school, told digi24.ro, who added that these “actions take place in the classroom, at the invitation of the director”.
Reporter: What was the topic of Mr. Puric’s conference?
Director of “Saint Sava” college: Teenagers…
Reporter: What?
GUIDING: About teenagers! About adolescence. It was a theme that was integrated into the theme of the Green Week – adolescence in today’s context.
Reporter: What does “in today’s context” mean?
GUIDING: I did not attend the conference. The teacher can give you information. What can be talked about with teenagers? Teenage issues, about life, about parents, how to protect nature…
Reporter: How many students were at Dan Puric’s conference?
GUIDING: The teacher can give you information, but she is not here.
The “lady teacher” who organized the conference with Puric teaches mathematics at “Sfântul Sava”. At the time of broadcasting the material, digi24.ro was unable to contact her for a point of view.
Fulaș specified that Dan Puric was not and is not the only guest of the high school, on the occasion of the “Green Week” program. Last Friday “it was Sorin Mihalache”, and on Wednesday “those from the Rotary Club” will hold a conference on drugs – “Drugs, from fascination to addiction”. The Digi24.ro reporter asked if he could participate in such a debate.
Directories “Saint Sava”: There are minors there. Parental consent is required
Reporter: Well, weren’t there minors at Mr. Puric’s as well?
GUIDING: They had parental consent! It’s an activity in the school and I don’t know if it’s an activity in which the press can also participate. It’s not public. It’s a meeting with the students.
Dan Puric has been accused of being a sympathizer and admirer of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
In March, the management of the Bucharest National Theater announced that it would launch an internal investigation and file a complaint with the police for the unauthorized distribution of materials on the premises of TNB, after a publication – publicly denounced as extremist propaganda – was distributed to the public at Sala Studio of the institution.
In the “editorial board” of the “Certitudinea” magazine, which has Mihai Eminescu as its “moral and spiritual coordinator”, there are famous names from the classics of Romanian literature (Caragiale, Alecsandri, Coșbuc, etc.), and among the “collaborators” are include Dan Puric (actor at TNB), Dorel Vişan, Florian Colceag, Florin Zamfirescu, Mircea Chelaru, Mircea Dogaru.
Another high school considered prestigious in Bucharest – “Gheorghe Lazăr” college – was at the center of a public scandal in September 2022, when the leader of AUR, George Simion, was booed by students after he had been invited to give a speech as graduate, at the opening ceremony of the school year. The management of the high school claimed on that occasion that the AUR leader was not invited to the ceremony, but that he personally wanted to participate. The director of Lazar high school introduced Simion as a graduate of the institution, a member of parliament, who “surprised us to participate”, before inviting him to speak.
