A prank call by a Mtavari TV journalist to the newly appointed president of the Georgian Academy of Sciences has become the talk of the nation in recent days.
Posing as an adviser to the Prime Minister's staff, Beka Korshia persuaded Roin Metreveli to confer the title of academician on Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, who, Korshia told Metreveli, was working on the theme of conservatism based on the writings of Edmund Burke.
Initially confused by the conversation, Metreveli asked if it was Burke to whom he should have given the title.
The Irish philosopher and one of the key thinkers of the Enlightenment died in 1797.
Roin Metreveli, who was rector of Tbilisi State University from 1991 to 2004, is an iconic figure associated with rampant bribery in Georgian higher education during that period, particularly in university admissions.
A World Bank study in 2000 found that bribes at Tbilisi State University sometimes exceeded USD 20,000.
Mr Metreveli had previously held key positions in the Communist Party of the Georgian SSR, including Third Secretary and First Secretary of the Komsomol, the party's youth wing.
Metreveli quickly agreed to award Garibashvili the title.
"Consider that it will be possible for Mr Irakli, and I want you to know that the Academy fully supports him, we are ready for anything," he said, using the opportunity to request a five-minute meeting with the Prime Minister.
The meeting quickly turned into a friendly chat during which Mr Metreveli also agreed to be a tamada at a feast at Mr Garibashvili's estate in Kakheti.
He also agreed with Korshia's rant about the opposition media in Georgia.
"I would shoot them all," Korshia shouted during the tirade, referring to opposition journalists.
Mr Metreveli received even such an outlandish claim with a sympathetic ear.
After the story was broadcast on television, Korshia said that Mr Metreveli's grandchildren had called Mtavari TV, demanding that the broadcast be canceled and threatening him.
"You can't scare me with threats," Mr Khorshia added.
Georgian Dream leaders were quick to back up Mr Metreveli.
“I don’t think you inflicted any damaged to his [Metreveli’s] reputation with such mockery,” Gia Volski, First Deputy Speaker of the Georgian Parliament said.
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