NGOs, opposition slam ombudsman’s reaction on journalist’s prank to Academy of Sciences’s chair over granting title to PM

Domestic civil society organizations and opposition representatives on Monday slammed ombudsperson Levan Ioseliani for his “wrong reactions” on media prank by Irakli Korshia, a journalist in the opposition-minded Mtavari channel, who on Sunday phoned a newly elected president of the Academy of Sciences, Roin Metreveli, with a fake name of the prime minister’s representative and requested him to grant the academician’s title to PM Irakli Garibashvili, with Metreveli accepting the request. 

 

“To treat an 83-year-old [Metreveli] like that is not the most honorable thing one can do, everything else is secondary”, Ioseliani said. 

 

The media prank has followed negative social media reactions to Metreveli’s appointment to the post, with users saying he was a former Soviet official and had been involved in corruption as the head of Tbilisi State University between 1991-2004.  

 

Korshia phoned Metreveli with a fake name of Aka Mamatsashvili, the PM’s advisor, and told him the academician’s title would be beneficial for the PM during his foreign trips or speeches, but added the information on granting the title would not be made public to prevent backlashes from opponents. 

 

“I think it will be possible for Mr. Irakli and I want you to know that the academy fully supports him, we are ready for everything. But it is a bit difficult to make the issue confidential. One thing you should know is that Mr. Irakli will be supported 100 percent. You know what I am afraid of –  my service to bring any negative consequences [for the PM], otherwise I do not have a problem, you can be sure that the academy is with you”, Metreveli said during the phone conversation.

 

The opposition and civil sector representative claimed the ombudsperson should have focused on an alleged case of nepotism and corruption rather than slamming the journalist.