Student's rights violated in Georgia

At night on 14 March, police dispersed a public meeting Tbilisi Medical College students held in front of the Georgian parliament. Arriving at the scene at 11 pm, the police removed tents set up by the picket and dispersed the students who had gone on a "hunger strike" yesterday night. The police action developed into hand-to-hand fighting between the police officers and the students, so three students had to be taken to the hospital after it. They were allowed to go home after a medical though. Doctors say the students were in a state of shock, but no bodily harm was found.

Coming to the scene, representatives of Georgia's New Rightists party, Labour Party, non-governmental organizations and the former Georgian leadership made a protest against the police action and accused the country's leaders of dispersing the students. They held a public meeting to support the victims.

Ioseb Shatberashvili, a Labour Party activist, said "Georgian Interior Minister Vanno Merabishvili has no right to enter his office and continue his work after the dispersal and Mikhail Saakashvili has no right to enter the president's office and continue working as if nothing has happened, either."

Education and Science Minister Alexander Lomaya told journalists the students would not change anything with their action. "They have a right to go on a hunger strike, but we are not going to permit unlawful actions, nor will black turn into white because of this."

Georgian Deputy Interior Minister Bidzina Bregadze holds that former leaders of the nation provoked the incident. "It was a poorly staged provocation on the part of some of the Shevardnadze-era leadership, but they will not achieve anything by those means," he said.

Students plan to resume their protest action near the Georgian parliament today. Political organisations are expected to join the meeting.

Tbilisi Medical College Students have been holding public meetings in front of the national parliament for about two weeks. The students and their parents demand that the agreement between the college and the Tbilisi Medical University under which college graduates are admitted to the university without examinations should be implemented. A while ago, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili promised not to disregard the demands of the students protesting in front of the parliament, too.

More info about Georgia:

• Human Rights Practices in Georgia - 2004