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Public Defender’s Statement Regarding Anti-Semitic Expression Made during Broadcasting Club of Funny and Clever Program

April 14, 2011

On April 2, 2011, during the contest of Club of Funny and Clever Program broadcast on TV Imedi, on the question about the greatest virtue of Hitler the team of State Medical University the Costa Nostra answered “free gas for every Jewish family.”

It should be noted that the audience hailed this answer with ovation. At the same time, none of the members of the jury, including a political official – the Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Lado Vardzelashvili, expressed protest about the question and the team’s answer. Moreover, the team received higher grade compared to other teams.

The aforementioned fact is disturbing. The answer of the team of Cosa Nostra insults the dignity of the Jewish people and the memory of Holocaust and represents an anti-Semitic statement. Such statements, made even in the context of humor, must be strictly assessed and condemned.

Hereby, I would like to respond to the official statements of the Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs and the Cosa Nostra team of the Club of Funny and Clever of Tbilisi State Medical University by which they made an apology.

The aforementioned itself is a positive development. However, the fact that took place on April 2 once again confirms that more efforts should be directed towards civic education and a culture of tolerance.

ombudsman.ge

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