We fight as best we can...

On October 29, 2004, at the Smolny Institute in St. Petersburg, under the leadership of Governor V. Matvienko, a joint meeting of rectors of St. Petersburg universities and heads of law enforcement agencies was held. The meeting was held behind closed doors without journalists.

Representatives of law enforcement agencies were asked to concentrate students in one place and ensure their safety there. For this purpose, a large interuniversity student complex was built in St. Petersburg.

V.Matviyenko demanded that before the beginning of the next academic year, to organize a pass to student dormitories using magnetic cards, to install outdoor surveillance cameras around the dormitories themselves, and inside - alarm buttons. In addition, according to Matvienko, "in order for police officers to quickly distinguish a foreign student from other foreigners when checking documents, it is advisable to make official inserts in passports, which would indicate that this citizen is a student of a particular educational institution" . V. Matviyenko also instructed to develop a tolerance program .

Vladimir Sinyakov, head of the department of the interuniversity campus, said that from January 1, 2005, an "adaptation school" for foreign students would be created on the basis of the campus. - We will teach them how to live not just in Russia - in St. Petersburg. Including - how to interact with all these skinheads or fans of "Zenith"

Of course, care about foreign students is necessary, but the question remains - why the police should distinguish foreign students from other foreigners. It turns out that it is simply not necessary to protect foreigners. In addition, it is not entirely clear how the creation of magnetic cards will protect a foreigner, for example, on the street. Also, the proposals to create a special center for foreigners "for the sake of security" are very much in tune with the discussion on the creation of a ghetto for foreign workers.

Sources

• Rotkevich E. Survive in Russia // Izvestiya nauki. November 3, 2004