Rostov-on-Don: SFU bosses demand to remove notes about university away from blog

Vladimir Radchenko, Director of the Centre for Public Relations and Communication Technologies of the Southern Federal University (SFU), demands that Sergey Reznik, a Rostov-based blogger, political analyst and journalist, removes from his online diary in LiveJournal a few dozens of notes, where the SFU and its administration are mentioned.

Mr Reznik made his notes during several months; they tell about corruption in the SFU, abuse of powers by Rector Zakharevich, miserable salaries of teachers, and about other problems of the University.

"A few days ago a letter from Radchenko came to my e-mail address and directly to my blog, running: 'I resolutely demand to delete the following notes from your journal (then follows a list of forty-one links, - note of the "Caucasian Knot"), as misleading the public, containing author's speculations and public insults'," Sergey Reznik told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The author of the letter was also indignant at the post, in which Rector's photo was placed next to Hitler's one. An anonymous comment is under this post demanding to immediately remove it.

The blogger responded to the letter by a new post, in which he called the SFU Rector an "online dictator for his attempt to censor the blog."

Besides, Reznik said that he treated the letter as a "gesture of despair of a university bureaucrat, who failed to extinguish the conflict with the journalist with money or whatever else."

Vladimir Radchenko has confirmed, in his conversation with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that he had sent an "official demand" to delete notes from the blog to Reznik; however, failed to explain, on what basis the journalist must delete posts in his personal online diary.

"I don't want to advertise the blog, but it reminds me of childhood, when we draw moustache to faces in photos. Reznik graduated from the University; and now he "drew moustache". We fairly realize what the Internet is. My colleagues ask me about what they write about us. People work for a large corporation, and they may make mistakes. It's all being discussed," said Radchenko.

He did not answer whether the SFU would sue Sergey Reznik.

"Many people know and love our university, no matter what they write about it and whatever problems it may face in growth. The SFU is a huge organization, about 60,000 persons," Mr Radchenko has summed up.