Rustavi: The Shota Rustaveli theatre and Film University while taking a strong action against protesting students revoked their student’s status. The decision in this regard was taken today by university authorities.
This significant information was also shared on the social media handles by many organisations. The official Facebook page of a social organisation stated, “On March 10, the Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film University revoked the student status of several protesters students to give them warning.”
At the same time the protesting students also had been fined with total amount worth GEL 5,000 ($1,800) the day before for protesting inside the university.After this many parties and social activists slammed university authorise as well. The social justice centre (SJC), a human rights group, criticized the fines imposed by university.
They further criticised university and said, the Georgian Dream government is using an “unconstitutional” legal norm to suppress student protests. The SJC while condemning this action of police also pointed to a recent amendment banning protests in closed spaces without the owner’s consent.
It is worth to note that protest is ongoing since last 83 days. This was escalated on March 9 when the university administration asked students to leave the foyer to for unannounced cleaning.
However, when the students refused to move to a small space provided for their protest, the police were called for action against students as well. The police warned them to leave before issuing the fines.
Afet this tense situation the students left the university but vowed to continue protesting in other forms. The human rights organisation SJC condemned the government’s actions as a violation of students’ right to assembly. The group also criticized the university administration for working against the students’ interests.
The same kind of protests were held in Georgia last years also. The last year protest was aimed at foreign agent’s law. Many protesting students were also arrested last year for joining anti-government protests.
