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Telavi University Student Warned for His Status in Social Network

February 24, 2014
 
Mikheil Mamalashvili, Kakheti

Rector of Telavi State University Avtandil Gelegutashvili assigned case of the student Nodar Ezhishvili to the Ethic Commission for his critical statuses about the university in the social network Facebook. The student was called to the ethic commission session, where he received warning. The Ethic Code imposes some other disciplinary sanctions and dismissal from the university as punishment. 

Nodar Ezhishvili is fourth year student at the law faculty of the Telavi State University. He is head of student union New Wave.

Nodar Ezhishvili said he had posted some status more than one year ago and did not remember them at all. “38-page comments and status with the rector’s signatures were assigned to the Ethic Commission; part of them was written more than one and half year ago and I did not remember them. The Commission might issue protocol on me. Ethic Code contradicts the Constitution of Georgia because they punished me for freedom of expression. Administration of the Telavi University tries to kill free opinion. It was exemplary punishment for other students, who have free opinion and intend to express their opinions in future. They wrote to me yesterday, how they should be active, if their case will then discussed by the ethic commission.”

According to official documentation, Professor Elizbar Elizbarashvili stated at the December 31, 2013 session of the University Academician Council (session protocol N 7) that student Nodar Ezhishvili was making insulting statements about the university and professors; Elizbarashvili said the student systematically published critical posts in Facebook.

According to the session protocol, the academician council, which is headed by the university rector, clarified with regard to Nodar Ezhishvili’s case that discussion of similar facts is within the competence of the Ethic Commission. Based on the official resolution of the University rector, on January 27, 2014, Ezhishvili’s case was sent to the commission for farther discussion.

Extracts from Nodar Ezhishvili’s posts on Facebook was enclosed to the rector’s resolution.

“The law went in force and the rector is still on his position. Academician Council seems to have sclerosis. Will not you dismiss the rector before he personally requests it?”

“Apparently, some of them are dreaming very actively. They have never been on high positions in their lives and now they are under influence.”

“Frogs feel most comfortable in the swamp and today it became very evident.”

“People have got rich; university society earned so much money without any effort at all.” 

“They spread rumors about everybody who was as active as I am now. Some of them changed their opinions after they forced their parents to interfere; others were compelled by different methods. Those, who continue protest, they are still fighting against us.”

Professor and member of the academician council Elizbar Elizbarashvili said Nodar Ezhishvili purposefully insults the university. “Professions, faculties and groups were not established and it was one of the main reasons. He was often interviewed by TV-Companies. This boy was selected for insulting the university and it was the result. It was smear campaign against the university as a result of which we could not receive qualified professionals.”

Ethic Code of the Telavi State University was approved by the collegial council on January 17, 2013. According to the Code, the document describes ethic principles and standards of the university; violation of those principles might cause disciplinary sanction or even dismissal from the university. The Code states that each student is obliged to act in accordance to the Ethic Standards of the University; according to the same document, students shall not spread insulting information about academician and administrative personnel or other students of the university. 

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