Rostov militia continues strengthened patrolling of the city; RSBU students under threat of expulsion for poor study

The militia in Rostov-on-Don continues its work in the emergency mode; however, according to the statement of the Regional GUVD, no serious crimes were registered in the city for the last day. The Rostov State Building University (RSBU) is checking the study achievements of all the students. According to university bosses, student Khasbulat Markhiev, suspected of murdering Maxim Sychov had a lot of absenteeism and poor performance; therefore, he will be expelled from the university.

The GUVD does not deny that the few recent days were especially turbulent. In many Internet blogs, all kinds of "organizers" now and then called students to gather in different areas of the city. Rallies, marches, mass fights, according to Internet reports, took place every half an hour in Theatre Square, near the Sports Palace, in Gorky Park, near the Musical Theatre and on the Embankment.

"The militia had enough forces and means," the "Caucasian Knot" was told at the GUVD, "to check all - even most incredible - statements. On December 15, there were no unsanctioned public events and mass violations of public order in the city of Rostov-on-Don. In total 177 persons were taken to the city interior territorial bodies; 40 of them - for administrative offences: drinking alcohol and disorderly conduct. Of these, 101 persons are Russians by nationality, and 76 - natives of North-Caucasian republics."

As decided by the Regional Administration, sudden inspections will be sent to student hostels; University Rectors were offered, at the meeting convoked by the Administration, to pay more attention to the upbringing work among students.

"If we highlight the problems, namely, organization of leisure of youth and upbringing, and tolerance, and keep working properly, we'll see the results," Sergey Gorban, Vice-Governor, said at a press conference at the "Interfax" News Agency.

When asked by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent about the future of targeted students (arriving within quotas) from North-Caucasian republics (the demand to transfer them to other universities was among those moved by protesters to authorities in Theatre Square on December 12), Igor Guskov, Minister of General and Vocational Education, said that the solution to this problem is outside the competence of the Rostov Region.

According to his story, there are 1200 targeted students from these republics (out of 200,000 students of regional universities); now a working group in the Regional Administration is preparing respective proposals to the Federal Ministry.

Mr Gorban has added: "If Rostov wants to remain the capital of Southern Russia, we'll go on teaching them. After all, in this way we help these republics to get on due legal footing."

According to Alexei Beskopylny, Vice-Rector for Upbringing at the Rostov State Building University (he was reprimanded after the death of Maxim Sychov), the student Khasbulat Markhiev, suspected of murdering Maxim Sychov and detained by law enforcement bodies, will be expelled from the university for absenteeism and poor performance.

The RSBU has launched a check of achievements of all students. By its outcomes, those students with low rates will be presented to expulsion. Now, apart from Markhiev, the University teaches 50 students from Ingushetia. More than half of them, according to Beskopylny, are very poor in training performance.

According to Alisher Khodzhaev, deputy representative of the head of the Chechen Republic in the Rostov Region and Rostov-on-Don, now the situation in the city is more or less calm.

"But on December 13," Mr Khodzhaev told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, "we rushed to hostels to persuade our students not to succumb to provocations, not to read the SMS-messages they receive, calling them to gather here and there. We said: "Learning is the main thing for you now!" As a result, not a single Chechen student was mentioned in militia reports. But we also worked together with the Dagestani and Ingush Diasporas either."