The University of Georgia, The University of Georgia, said it was offended by yesterday's statements by the Prime Minister of Georgia about its students in the context of protests over the "foreign agents" law.
"We hope that the Prime Minister's statement is not related to slander, but to a lack of information," the statement reads.
We are talking about several statements made by Garibashvili, who stated that the university and its students were involved in the riots at the rally. In an interview with the "Imedi" television company, the Prime Minister said, speaking about the university and the "Franklin Club" operating at it:
"Saakashvili's mother, Giuli Alasania, founded the so-called Franklin Club, where young people are brainwashed."
"Anarchists from the "Franklin Club" and trained members of "Gircha" Zurab Japaridze had the task of entering into a confrontation with the special forces and the police, provoking them with Molotov cocktails."
"When Saakashvili was president, he gave the university to his mother for 1 lari."
The University Of Georgia's answer: Giuli Alasania and Manana Sanadze founded the university, and no one "handed" it to them. The buildings were purchased at a public auction for up to $4 million and the amount was paid by the university through a bank loan. All documents are publicly available.
"The most disturbing for us was the information spread by the Prime Minister about our students, which we consider an insult to them...
His assessment of the university's activities as "subversive and anti-government" is also alarming and disappointing," the statement said.
The university emphasizes that it is proud to educate a free-thinking generation, which itself decides at which rally to stand, what to demand and how to defend their rights: "In the recent history of the country, Georgian students have repeatedly played a decisive role, and we believe that to belittle this role is tantamount to deceiving students".
At the same time, the higher educational institution notes its apolitical nature.
The University Of Georgia is recognized by international authoritative rating organizations as the best private university in the region. It employs more than a thousand people as teachers, administration and support staff. At the same time, it is emphasized that a number of people who are currently in power in Georgia studied here.
"The university always stands on the bright side - on guard of the interests of the motherland and youth," the statement reads.