St. Petersburg student not accepted to journalism master’s programme after public support of Elena Milashina, Russian journalist attacked in Chechnya

Elizaveta Antonova, a bachelor graduate of the St. Petersburg State University journalism faculty, has not been accepted to the university’s master’s programme following her public support of Elena Milashina, Antonova herself told Novaya Gazeta on Saturday.

She applied for the master’s programme and submitted a portfolio, parts of which were subsequently disqualified without a clear reason given. During the appeal, the commission refused to reconsider the university’s decision in regards to not accepting parts of the portfolio. 

Antonova told Novaya Gazeta that she does not intend to appeal the university’s actions further. According to her, she realised it was a chance to try studying in a different university, to which she plans to apply next year. “For now, I will spend this year focusing on scientific work,” she added. 

On 6 July, two bachelor graduates of the St. Petersburg State University journalism faculty came out in support of Elena Milashina during their graduation ceremony, unfurling a banner with a photo of the Novaya Gazeta journalist, who had been attacked in Chechnya on 4 July. The banner spelled out “the face of Russian journalism”. 

“We were taught to speak out, not to stay silent. Why should we be closing our eyes and celebrating the occasion at the same time while one of the best, if not the best, Russian journalists is being beaten up?” Antonova said back then.