**University Fines Protesters, Revokes Student Status**
Today, March 10, the Shota Rustaveli Theater and Film University in Georgia took action against student protesters. The university revoked the student status of some protesters who were involved in a protest inside the building.
**Police Fines Students**
Yesterday, students were fined GEL 5,000 (about $1,800) for protesting inside the university building. The police used a recently passed amendment that bans protests in closed spaces without the owner’s consent. This amendment is being called “unconstitutional” by the Social Justice Center.
**Students Refused to Move**
The students had been protesting at the Theater University for 83 consecutive days. When the cleaning service began an unannounced disinfection, they were told to leave the university’s foyer and move to a tiny space of just five square meters. The students refused to do this because it would have cramped them in.
**University Called Police**
The university administration called the police three times after the students refused to move. The students were first warned to leave the university foyer, but they decided to stay. They were then fined GEL 5,000 each by the police. Faced with up to 15 days in administrative detention, the protesting students decided to leave the university.
**Human Rights Watchdog Reacts**
The Social Justice Center says that the government “grossly violated” the students’ right to assembly and stressed that their protest did not disrupt the normal functioning of the educational process. The watchdog also said that the newly adopted amendments are “unconstitutional” and serve to punish and intimidate protesters.
**Protests Continue**
As the nationwide anti-government resistance in Georgia continues for over 100 days, students at several universities have expressed their protest inside university buildings. The Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film University has been at the forefront of student resistance. The students who had their status revoked say they will continue to protest in other ways.
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