the wages of spamming and troilism is death

An image from the "Kill the American English Centre" image/poster contest / Image from www.cartoon.ru

MosNews
25 July 2005

Russia’s Biggest Spammer
Brutally Murdered in Apartment

Vardan Kushnir, notorious for sending spam to each and every citizen of Russia who appeared to have an e-mail, was found dead in his Moscow apartment on Sunday, Interfax reported Monday. He died after suffering repeated blows to the head.

Kushnir, 35, headed the English learning centers the Center for American English, the New York English Centre and the Centre for Spoken English, all known to have aggressive Internet advertising policies in which millions of e-mails were sent every day.

In the past angry Internet users have targeted the American English centre by publishing the Center’s telephone numbers anywhere on the Web to provoke telephone calls. The Center’s telephone was advertised as a contact number for cheap sex services, or bargain real estate sales.

Another attack involved hundreds of people making phone calls to the American English Center and sending it numerous e-mails back, but Vardan Kushnir remained sure of his right to spam, saying it was what e-mails were for.

Under Russian law, spamming is not considered illegal, although lawmakers are working on legal projects that could protect Russian Internet users like they do in Europe and the U.S.

SEE ALSO
Russian Media Hails Spammer’s Murder

MosNews Commentary, July 26th, 2005

Russian Police Claim Biggest Spammer’s Murder Solved

=============

Komsomolskaya Pravda
UFO Sightings in Russia -- Wrap up for 2005
Image from www.kp.ru

Russian intelligence agencies have repeatedly stated that no UFOs have ever been spotted over Russian territory. However, witnesses from the general public continue to contradict those reports with stories of their personal encounters with the paranormal.
COMMENTARY

Putin’s Show of Strength Triggers Fear of Fresh Nuclear Arms Race
Image by Mosnews.com

Vladimir Putin has sparked fears of a new arms race between Russia and the United States by deploying a nuclear ballistic strike force system that officials made clear could penetrate U.S. anti-missile defenses.
IMAGES

Moscow Protests Against Nationalism

A crowd of at least 1,500 people gathered in the centre of Moscow on a cold winter day to to take part in the ’Moscow without Nationalism’ rally. The march touched on a simmering issue of rising hate and crimes against foreigners, particularly migrant workers from other parts of the old Soviet Union.

==================

vnunet.com
26 July 2005

Russian spammer
found beaten to death

One billion email users under suspicion
as police launch enquiry

Ken Young, vnunet.com

One of Russia's best-known spammers has been found beaten to death in his apartment in central Moscow, according to police reports.

Moscow's Public Prosecutions Office said that an unnamed person had found Vardan Kushnir about 35 minutes after he had received severe head injuries.

The Petersburg Times reported that the killer had rifled through Kushnir's possessions, leaving the apartment in disarray. A number of valuable items had been stolen.

Personal belongings were scattered around the scene of the crime and "the atmosphere of the room was disturbed", according to the newspaper.

Police are examining video footage captured by a security camera pointed at the courtyard of the building where Kushnir lived.

Kushnir is alleged to have sent millions of unsolicited emails offering English classes at the American Language Center run by his company. The emails were rumoured to have hit every PC in the country at least once.

==================

Antivirus
Jul 27 2005

Vardan Kushnir
bludgeoned to death

Russia's most infamous spammer, Vardan Kushnir, was found bludgeoned to death in his Moscow apartment on Sunday, July 24th. Kushnir was the owner of the American Language Center, which provided English language courses for Russian-speaking persons. Kushnir sent so much spam on behalf of American Language Center that he quickly became the target of DDoS attacks, death threats, and even the deposit of feces outside the ALC offices.

Kushnir (via a company called Sophim, Inc.) was also allegedly involved in a 2001 stock scam in the U.S. which resulted in the Office of the Kansas Securities Commissioner issuing a Cease & Decist order. More recently, someone using the name Vardan Kushnir and claiming to be the president of Sophim, Inc., posted messages to various financial groups, seeking partners for 'tradeforall.com'.

But according to Moscow media, it was sex - and not spam or financial scams - that ultimately led to the violent demise of the 35-year-old Kushnir. Kommersant reports that on the night of his murder, Kushnir allegedly met three women in a club whom he subsequently invited to his apartment. The women then drugged and robbed Kushnir. He apparently awoke during the robbery attempt and was subsequently beaten to death.