The Scientific Council of the Tsotne Mirtskhulava Institute of Water Resources of the Georgian Technical University Has Made a Decision Regarding the Story Broadcast on “Nodar Meladze’s Saturday Show”
25-11-2025
The Scientific Council of the Tsotne Mirtskhulava Institute of Water Resources of the Georgian Technical University responds to the story broadcast on “TV Pirveli” on November 22nd by “Nodar Meladze’s Saturday Show”, which concerned the alienation of the institute’s building and aimed to provide the public with information that is not in line with reality regarding the current situation.
“The Tsotne Mirtskhulava Institute of Water Resources of the Georgian Technical University responds to the story broadcast on “TV Pirveli” on November 22nd “Nodar Meladze’s Saturday Show”, which concerned the alienation of the institute’s building. We categorically state that the allegations in the story constitute disinformation, a biased interpretation, and slander, and constitute an attempt to substantially damage the reputations of both the institute and the Georgian Technical University.
It is particularly unacceptable that the story unjustifiably links the process of alienating the institute’s building with the acquisition of private property by the rector of the Georgian Technical University, Academician David Gurgenidze. This is a classic form of slander, the invention of facts and their deliberate distortion in the public space. We categorically state that such “allegations” voiced without evidence are a gross violation of journalistic ethics and objectivity, with which “Nodar Meladze’s Saturday Show” has crossed the line of freedom of expression.
Due to the high public interest, we consider it necessary to make a clarification: the former building of the institute had been deteriorated for years, which is why it no longer met the requirements of safety, seismic stability, and modern research infrastructure. The rehabilitation of the building required a multi-million-dollar investment, which was beyond the financial capabilities of the Georgian Technical University. Similarly, due to the lack of financial resources, it was not possible to renew the laboratories and technologically modernize them.
Considering these real circumstances, the strategic decision to alienate the building was made back in 2018 (David Gurgenidze was elected as Rector by the Academic Council, and Carlo Kopaliani as Chancellor in 2020), in order to use the funds received to build a modern research complex for the institute in another location that meets international standards (letter of the National Agency for State Property N6/1596 of January 10th, 2018). In 2020, after the election of David Gurgenidze as Rector, the Academic Council emphasized in its resolution that the funds received through privatization should be fully used to improve the infrastructure of the university and the institute. The author of the story, unfortunately, used only the 2020 resolution of the Academic Council, taken out of context, thereby hiding the truth from the public and deliberately spreading defamatory information against the university, the institute, and the rector, Academician David Gurgenidze.
It is noteworthy that the process of alienating the Institute building and preparing for the construction of a new building is being carried out in full compliance with the law, public finance management principles, and construction regulations. This is confirmed by the legally approved construction permit issued by the Technical and Construction Supervision Agency, which is an official guarantee of the project implementation (December 16th, 2024, N248-04).
In addition, the Georgian Technical University has repeatedly addressed the Agency for IDPs, Eco-migrants and Livelihoods with official letters and informed that the actual users of the building located on the land plot used by the University were two IDP families, one of whom had already received compensation, while the other family was waiting for the transfer of housing from the state. The university appealed to the agency to ensure the safe and lawful removal of the families from the occupied premises, especially since there was an official expert report confirming that the building was dilapidated, damaged and potentially dangerous to human life. Despite the importance of the issue, “Nodar Meladze’s Saturday Show” considered the above-mentioned circumstance insignificant, did not reflect it in the story, and thus presented incomplete information to the public. By distorting the facts, “Nodar Meladze’s Saturday Show” attempted to discredit the leadership of the Georgian Technical University and the Tsotne Mirtskhulava Institute of Water Management.
The Tsotne Mirtskhulava Institute of Water Management of GTU once again condemns the circulation of false and biased information by the TV company “TV Pirveli”, which is a deliberate attempt to damage the reputation of both the institute and the Georgian Technical University.
In addition, the Tsotne Mirtskhulava Institute of Water Management of GTU expresses its readiness to provide any interested person, media representative, legal body, or public organization with the documentation that fully confirms the legality and transparency of the process of alienating the institute’s building,” is said in the statement released by the Tsotne Mirtskhulava Institute of Water Management of GTU.
“The Tsotne Mirtskhulava Institute of Water Resources of the Georgian Technical University responds to the story broadcast on “TV Pirveli” on November 22nd “Nodar Meladze’s Saturday Show”, which concerned the alienation of the institute’s building. We categorically state that the allegations in the story constitute disinformation, a biased interpretation, and slander, and constitute an attempt to substantially damage the reputations of both the institute and the Georgian Technical University.
It is particularly unacceptable that the story unjustifiably links the process of alienating the institute’s building with the acquisition of private property by the rector of the Georgian Technical University, Academician David Gurgenidze. This is a classic form of slander, the invention of facts and their deliberate distortion in the public space. We categorically state that such “allegations” voiced without evidence are a gross violation of journalistic ethics and objectivity, with which “Nodar Meladze’s Saturday Show” has crossed the line of freedom of expression.
Due to the high public interest, we consider it necessary to make a clarification: the former building of the institute had been deteriorated for years, which is why it no longer met the requirements of safety, seismic stability, and modern research infrastructure. The rehabilitation of the building required a multi-million-dollar investment, which was beyond the financial capabilities of the Georgian Technical University. Similarly, due to the lack of financial resources, it was not possible to renew the laboratories and technologically modernize them.
Considering these real circumstances, the strategic decision to alienate the building was made back in 2018 (David Gurgenidze was elected as Rector by the Academic Council, and Carlo Kopaliani as Chancellor in 2020), in order to use the funds received to build a modern research complex for the institute in another location that meets international standards (letter of the National Agency for State Property N6/1596 of January 10th, 2018). In 2020, after the election of David Gurgenidze as Rector, the Academic Council emphasized in its resolution that the funds received through privatization should be fully used to improve the infrastructure of the university and the institute. The author of the story, unfortunately, used only the 2020 resolution of the Academic Council, taken out of context, thereby hiding the truth from the public and deliberately spreading defamatory information against the university, the institute, and the rector, Academician David Gurgenidze.
It is noteworthy that the process of alienating the Institute building and preparing for the construction of a new building is being carried out in full compliance with the law, public finance management principles, and construction regulations. This is confirmed by the legally approved construction permit issued by the Technical and Construction Supervision Agency, which is an official guarantee of the project implementation (December 16th, 2024, N248-04).
In addition, the Georgian Technical University has repeatedly addressed the Agency for IDPs, Eco-migrants and Livelihoods with official letters and informed that the actual users of the building located on the land plot used by the University were two IDP families, one of whom had already received compensation, while the other family was waiting for the transfer of housing from the state. The university appealed to the agency to ensure the safe and lawful removal of the families from the occupied premises, especially since there was an official expert report confirming that the building was dilapidated, damaged and potentially dangerous to human life. Despite the importance of the issue, “Nodar Meladze’s Saturday Show” considered the above-mentioned circumstance insignificant, did not reflect it in the story, and thus presented incomplete information to the public. By distorting the facts, “Nodar Meladze’s Saturday Show” attempted to discredit the leadership of the Georgian Technical University and the Tsotne Mirtskhulava Institute of Water Management.
The Tsotne Mirtskhulava Institute of Water Management of GTU once again condemns the circulation of false and biased information by the TV company “TV Pirveli”, which is a deliberate attempt to damage the reputation of both the institute and the Georgian Technical University.
In addition, the Tsotne Mirtskhulava Institute of Water Management of GTU expresses its readiness to provide any interested person, media representative, legal body, or public organization with the documentation that fully confirms the legality and transparency of the process of alienating the institute’s building,” is said in the statement released by the Tsotne Mirtskhulava Institute of Water Management of GTU.
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