A graduate of St. Petersburg State University, who held a campaign in support of Elena Milashina, said that she did not enter the master’s program because her scores were lowered

A graduate of the Faculty of Journalism of St. Petersburg State University, Elizaveta Antonova, who held a rally in support of journalist Elena Milashina, said that she did not enter the university’s master’s program because her entrance scores were lowered. She told “Paper” about this.

The admissions committee gave the journalist 29 points, while the minimum threshold for admission to the master's program is 30 points. According to Antonova, the admissions committee accused her of forging a letter of recommendation from the Dean of the Faculty of Journalism, Anatoly Puy, while accepting a similar letter from other applicants.

The commission also did not award points for the rationale for choosing to study at St. Petersburg State University, work experience and other criteria. According to Antonova, the commission awarded points that practically cannot be underestimated - for the absence of grammatical errors in the letter, a certificate of knowledge of a foreign language and the presence of a diploma. She also did not receive points for completing additional educational courses, since they are awarded only after gaining 65 points.

Antonova filed an appeal, but the selection committee refused to reconsider its decision and did not give reasons for it.

In a conversation with Bamaga, Antonova said that she could not say for sure that she was not accepted into the master’s program because of the picket in support of Milashina or cooperation with independent media. “Considering that students are expelled for participating in anti-war actions and simply for their pacifist position, then, of course, suspicions arise,” the journalist said.

• On July 6, graduates of the Faculty of Journalism of St. Petersburg State University held a rally in support of Novaya Gazeta journalist Elena Milashina, who was beaten in Chechnya. At the graduation ceremony, two students unfurled a poster with a portrait of Milashina and the caption “The Face of Russian Journalism.” They explained that in this way they wanted to support Milashina. “Fingers broken in 14 places is the price that is now being paid for the truth and the opportunity to convey it to people,” said one of the graduates.
• In early July, Elena Milashina and lawyer Alexander Nemov were beaten in Grozny. They came to Chechnya to announce the verdict of Zarema Musaeva. Milashina was diagnosed with a closed craniocerebral injury, multiple fractures of the hands and soft tissue bruises, while Nemov was diagnosed with a knife wound, numerous hematomas and bruises.