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Head of Novosibirsk college speaks in support of students fined for attending protests

Head of Novosibirsk Open City College Sergei Chernyshov stated that local police had contacted him asking to “educate” his students who attended anti-war protests. Chernyshov wrote a post on Facebook, cited by Tayga.info.

According to him, regional police sent him a letter about the “bad students” in his college. Four students were fined for “discrediting the Russian army and taking part in an unsanctioned protest.” Chernyshov said that he knew about this in advance, because their parents “basically live reported this while their kids were being held in police vans.”

“Simply put, here are the rates: 15,000 (rubles, about $210 - editor’s note) for taking to the streets, 30,000 (rubles, about $420) for carrying a “No to war” sign. They are asking me to educate them, to raise the level of patriotism and to prevent unlawful activity in the future,” the head of the college said.

He noted that the police “are asking the impossible.”

“When active and smart young people take to the streets with humanistic signs, and in response, those who should be protecting them from criminals shove them into police vans, you can try and nurture patriotism all you want. But the guys in black helmets have already done it for us. They’ve formed their civil position, so to say,” Chernyshov said.

He added that his college would not punish students for this, but “in 95% of cases, such letters to colleges and universities end in “divine retribution” of all kinds, expulsion included.” In this regard, he proposed compiling a list of all students expelled for attending protests, to later give them priority during readmission.

“And most importantly, I ask parents to be on their children’s side. Charges come and go, but your children are here to stay. And of course, they will be better than us. And definitely better than those who are punishing them right now,” Chernyshov stated.