Andrey Korotkov

Andrey Korotkov

Dr. Andrey Korotkov (Андрéй Короткóв) (June 3, 1954, Sevastopol - 10.02.2012) - First Deputy Communications and Informatisation Minister in Russia (2002-2004), Senior Vice President and CIO of Bank VTB(2004-2006).

Currently - professor, Moscow State Institute of Foreign Affairs, Academy of National Economy under the Government of Russia Federation. Used to be an executive advisor to Director General of Federal Passenger Company (Russian Railways) and member of High-level Advisory group of the UN Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID).

In 2003 he briefly attracted worldwide media attention, when he participated in an unusual attack on Russia's most prominent spammer, American Language Center (ALC).

Korotkov, like most Russian Internet users, has received spam from ALC many times. Several attempts to complain and "unsubscribe" were unsuccessful, but soon the spam messages started to address him by name.

During an interview to Rambler-Audio news project, Korotkov addressed the American Language Center:

I would like to warn you that if you do not stop your illegal activities, not only me, but the whole association recently formed to combat spam, would take adequate actions that would not only stop you from hindering normal use of e-mail, but would really make your life complicated. Once again I ask you to stop your illegal activities and think about legitimate ways to achieve your goals.

Golden Telecom, one of the largest Russian ISP, organised automatic dialing to ALC phone numbers. Every 10 seconds a phone call was made and the recorded message given above was played.