We are already used to the fact that the Serbian Orthodox Church with the progressive government performs "double passes" when necessary, in football jargon. When the authorities need legitimacy or support, the SPC is always there. On the other hand, when the Church needs money, the state budget is there to grab as much as it needs. If the SPC was more attached to Christian principles and less to material goods, if it thought more about its reputation and less about money - surely it would not have awarded medals to the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vuฤiฤ, and the Minister of Finance, Sinisa Malo. For the simple reason that these two - it can be seen from the plane - are personified factories of sins and "multiple returnees" in violation of God's commandments. Let us remind you that pride is a mortal sin, greed is also, and that the eighth commandment of God says: do not steal!
If it lived up to its reputation, the SPC would not have awarded the Order of the Great Martyrs of Kragujevac first degree to Sinisa Mal at the height of the uproar about his plagiarized doctorate, with the blessing of Patriarch Irinej. If she had more wisdom, she would not have allowed herself to be used for political and media relativization - it can be said with certainty a long time ago, regardless of what will be the final verdict of the Committee for Professional Ethics of the University of Belgrade - the fact that Mali is an "academic thief ".
photo: andrija vukelic / tanjug / for enlarged image right click and ยปview imageยซTHEY DON'T GIVE UP: Student protests demanding that Mal's doctorate be revoked
OVER THE BREAD DOCTORATE!
If we talk about greed, it is evident that Mali Baลกtina has a fairly widespread feature in these areas, that is, that it belongs to that small group of people who, to put it in the vernacular, insist on bread over the cake. It would be difficult to explain otherwise his desire to have the word "dr" in front of his first and last name, at all costs and with all the risks. Someone from the outside would, perhaps naively, wonder what the hell he needed that doctorate for. And does he now regret writing it at all (that is, rewriting it)?
photo: one in five million / for enlarged image right click and ยปview imageยซ
That someone from the side would think that Mali has more or less achieved everything that can be achieved in life - he probably "saved" enough money for three generations, and as for the profession - he doesn't lack that either, regardless of who he is ( was) in power in Serbia. Mali was the assistant minister for privatization in the post-October 2018 period, then the director of the Center for Tender-Auction Privatization, Restructuring and Capital Market of the Privatization Agency in order to elem, after the progressives came to power - evil rumors say, thanks to his closeness with Stanko Subotic Canet and Vladimir Bebo Popoviฤ - became the first man of the capital. Siniลกa Mali "persevered" for the entire term as the mayor of Belgrade, and when everyone thought that the consequences of the "Savamala" affair would eventually catch up with him, he was promoted to the position of Minister of Finance in May 2013. In order to be mayor and minister of finance, it is quite certain that it was not necessary for him to defend his doctoral thesis at the Faculty of Organizational Sciences of the University of Belgrade in XNUMX under the title "Creating value through the process of restructuring and privatization - theoretical concepts and experiences of Serbia". This was also confirmed by the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vuฤiฤ, who recently said - if we understood him correctly - that Siniลกa Mali would be a minister and that he had "only an elementary school".
Little, therefore, absolutely did not need a doctorate because he clearly has some other qualities that recommend him for advancement on the power ladder. He certainly didn't even plan to try his hand at being a university professor when his term ends - that is, when that miracle happens and the progressives fall from power - where he will fool around with the students for little money. Rather, it will be that, after leaving the government, he will end up as a member of some expert council of some kind of investment fund, and he didn't need a doctorate for that either. And even if such a scenario happens that he ends up in prison, the "doctor" will still not be of much use to him.
photo: marija jankoviฤ / for enlarged image right click and ยปview imageยซRECTORATE: FON
DEMONSTRATION OF PROGRESSIVE OMNIPOTENCY
When asked why people who have money and power need to adorn themselves with diplomas, doctorates and decorations, Novi Sad psychologist Mikloลก Biro, in an interview for the "Autonomija" portal, answers: because of the "feeling of omnipotence". The Bureau claims that the progressive government wants to "overwhelm us in all aspects of life" and that - when the government is exercised in this way - its representatives have a "sense of omnipotence". They will not only rule uncontrollably, but also want to have huge money, "so they steal everywhere". They also want to be respected, so they "adorn themselves with fake decorations, fake doctorates and other stolen things."
Aleksandra ฤuriฤ Bosniฤ, a cultural expert, is of a similar opinion, who tells "Vreme" that the "hunt for doctorates" of members of the ruling party is "a demonstration of their omnipotence", i.e. that they think they "can do everything" - that without effort and "underlying academic skills ", "on the basis of their own power" they get what "others need years and years of hard work for".
"On the other hand, this is a step further in their recognizable manner of fabricating reality and creating identities (in this case, their own) through deception, simulations, media distortions... On the third hand, and no less important, this is certainly their strong desire to 'wash' or refine their biographies in this way, to 'decorate' their personalities with falsely acquired academic titles and thus, for the umpteenth time, deceiving the public, present themselves not only as authorities but also as experts worthy of respect and respect. And finally, this is an indicator of the extent to which their devastation succeeded even in that institution that had to remain untouchable and independent - and that is the university," ฤuriฤ Bosniฤ told "Vreme".
LARGE CAPACITY AND UNWORTHY ROAD
In contrast to many other progressive holders of diplomas and dubious doctorates who were bought or acquired through the environment, who were - evidently - bad students, Siniลกa Mali was a good student. That makes his case even more tragic. Professor Danica Popoviฤ recently testified about him as a good student, who admits that she was very suspicious when the news about the plagiarized doctorate of Sinis Malog first appeared in the public. She thought, Popoviฤ recalls, that Mali was the victim of a malicious campaign, so she told herself "they always hit the best".
However, when she began to read her former student's PhD, she realized that he was a man with a "big brain" and "great capacity" who had chosen a "highly unworthy" path. She also determined that it is not immorality but a "criminal act" and that Mali is an "academic thief" who, as a plagiarist in a civilized country, would have to pay a "large monetary compensation". Due to, among other things, these publicly stated observations, Danica Popoviฤ herself will soon find herself under attack from the progressive government and its deadly tabloid machinery under the accusation that she is actually a plagiarist. Another modest contribution to the Orwellian dimension of this government, according to which war is actually peace, freedom is slavery, and ignorance is power.
As for Sinisa Malog, the conclusion is as follows: he had the capacity to prepare his doctoral dissertation as required by the academic rules, but he did not have time to deal with it yet. Apparently he was busy with some more lucrative business. Maybe he had someone write his doctorate for him, and this one screwed him up - who knows!
HOW I DRIBBLED ALL THE FOOTBALLERS AND EARNED A RED CARD
Siniลกa Mali is reminiscent of a football player who dribbled past all the players - both his own and others - and broke in front of the opposing goalkeeper. Then, instead of clinking the goal, he made an extra move. And not only does he miss a goal because of that extra move, but he also commits a foul on the goalkeeper and earns a red card. That "excessive move" by Siniลกa Malog obviously angers the Serbian Progressive Party, which invests really enormous energy to "defend the indefensible", that is, to prove that Malog's doctorate is not plagiarism. As if there is a feeling in the air that a red card for Malog could mark the beginning of the dismantling and disintegration of the entire system of rule of Aleksandar Vuฤiฤ, based on falsified values, fake diplomas, quackery, inflated lips and silicone breasts. If the University of Belgrade musters up the courage to call bob a bob, there is a possibility that other professions will also rebel against the shalabizers in power.
We will find out on November 22 whether Sinisa Mali will receive a red card. That D-Day is eagerly awaited by all of us. The rector of the University of Belgrade, Ivanka Popoviฤ - who, after announcing that she supports the students who are asking for the case of the disputed doctorate to be resolved, became a fan of the "other Serbia" - initially announced that the truth about the doctorate would be known on November 4, and then, on that day, apologized and said that the date would be extended for bureaucratic-administrative reasons. Namely, during the negotiations with the students - who blocked the Rector's Office for two weeks in September because of Sinisa Malog's doctorate - they completely overlooked that after the decision of the Scientific and Teaching Council of the Faculty of Organizational Sciences, which was forwarded to the university Committee for Professional Ethics, should take into account the time needed to exercise the right to appeal. All in all, the Board for Professional Ethics will make a decision on November 22, which will probably be final. The board is the second-level and final decision-making body, which has all the possibilities in its hands. He can confirm the decision of the NNV, cancel it or send it back for a new decision. Therefore, he can make a decision to invalidate Mali's doctorate as plagiarism.
BUYING TIME OR - "HAVING TO"
The public, which in Serbia has largely moved to social networks, immediately suspected that the Rector and the University were buying time before making a decision reminiscent of the famous dilemma from the "Dark Vilayet" - if you take it, you'll regret it, if you don't take it , you will regret the same. With the addition: if you decide to wait to decide whether to take it or not, you will regret it again.
Valentina Rekoviฤ, a student of the Belgrade Faculty of Political Sciences, who was one of the leaders of the student blockade of the Rectorate, recalls, in an interview with "Vreme", that the students suspended the blockade precisely because of the promise that the case would be resolved on November 4. She says that she finds it very unusual that the professors with whom they negotiated, among whom were lawyers, did not know that there was an appeal deadline that could prolong the decision. She added that students will consult with professors gathered around the university's support of "1 in 5 million" and the "105 in 5 million" initiative about whether it was an "inadvertent error" or a prolongation with the aim of deceiving students. If the latter is the case, says Rekoviฤ, the students will immediately begin a new round of blocking the Rectorate. The next day, when we heard from each other, Rekoviฤ confirmed to us that it was assessed that it was an "unintentional mistake" and that we will have to wait for November 22, when the Committee for Professional Ethics will - hopefully - make a final, second-instance decision, based on which further student activities will be created.
Professor Ognjen Radonjiฤ from the Belgrade Faculty of Philosophy indicates in an interview for "Vreme" that the extension of the date is not a decision of the Rector and the University, but a "must".
"In July, the Committee for Professional Ethics annulled the decision of NNV FON, because it determined that the opinion of the Expert Commission of FON, on the basis of which the decision of the Faculty's Teaching and Research Council was made, was incomplete, unclear and contradictory. In my deep conviction, this finding itself, that is the opinion of the Expert Commission
FON's vague, incomplete and contradictory statement was a sufficient basis for making a final, second-instance decision. That did not happen, and the decision to return the process to FON for reconsideration threw us into the arms of the Law on General Administrative Procedure. Whether there was an oversight, intentional or unintentional, I don't know, but it happened. The final decision promised to the students by November 4 was possible only on the condition that FON did not make a new decision, which, by the way, is irrelevant. Therefore, the University is now obliged to comply with the 15-day appeal deadline for the last decision of the FON. That's how it is - it's not worth crying over spilled milk," says Radonjiฤ, who is a signatory of the support of teachers and associates of the Faculty of Philosophy to the protests of Serbian citizens called "105 out of 5 million".
CONDEMNATION INSTEAD OF WARNING INTRODUCTION TO CANCELLATION OF THE DOCTORATE?
Some, however, believe that the decision made by the Teaching-Scientific Council of FON is still not "pointless", especially since instead of a "public admonition", which was proposed by the Ethics Commission of this higher education institution, Sinisa Mal was given a "public condemnation". According to those familiar with the situation, this represents a "strong recommendation" to the Committee for Professional Ethics of the University of Belgrade to annul the disputed doctorate of the Minister of Finance. According to them, even though it doesn't seem like it at first glance, it is a turnaround at this faculty, which for many years pretended to be deaf, blind and dumb when it comes to Malog's doctorate. "The report of the Ethics Commission of FON, which establishes the existence of non-academic behavior, is adopted, and the Teaching and Research Council proposes the measure of public condemnation", reads the decision of the Teaching and Research Council. By the way, as reported by the media, 21 members of the NNV voted for the option of public reprimand, while 83 members voted for the stricter measure of public condemnation.
Let us remind you that the "agony" with Sinisha Malog's doctoral dissertation began a little more than five years ago, when on the "Peลกฤanika" website, full professor and head of the finance department at EBS University in Wiesbaden and guest professor at New York University (NYU) Rasha Karapandza published an analysis of Sinisa Malog's doctorate and determined that it was pure plagiarism! "In my career, I have never faced the amount of copying that is present in Mr. Sinisa Malog's doctoral thesis," Karapandza wrote in 2014.
photo: marija jankoviฤAPOLOGIES FOR THE DELAY: Rector Ivana Popoviฤ
In a serious state, the accusations and evidence presented by Professor Karapandลพa in the text would be more than enough to speedily proceed with their verification, that is, the assessment of the so-called academic integrity of Sinisa Malog. All the more so because it is a public official and citizens have the right to find out as soon as possible whether there is an honest man or a "thief" at the head of the capital. Let's not say that in any serious state, under the burden of evidence such as that presented by Karapandza, a public official would submit an irrevocable resignation. Instead, the government did everything to protect Siniลกa Malog - either it kept silent and pretended to be a fool, or it led a dirty campaign against those who demanded that the public learn the truth about the disputed doctorate.
BRIEF OVERVIEW OF BEล ฤAล ฤ
Two years after the mentioned text, i.e. in 2016, the Ethics Commission of the FON was finally convened, which rejected as "unfounded" the request to determine the non-academic behavior of Siniลกa Malog. That decision was made even though, in the meantime, the article in the journal "Organization and Management", which Mali was a co-author and on the basis of which he gained the right to defend his doctorate, was retracted. Reason for withdrawal โ it was plagiarism! The conclusion of the Ethics Commission was that Mali's work "contains certain omissions in the way of citation", but that they are of "negligible extent". The teaching-scientific council of FON accepted this report, but it was rejected by the Senate of the University of Belgrade, which asked FON to form an expert commission that would analyze the disputed doctorate.
At the beginning of 2018, 339 academics and university professors signed a petition demanding that the Committee for Professional Ethics of the University of Belgrade initiate disciplinary proceedings against the mentor Sinisa Mali and other members of the committee before whom Mali defended his doctorate, as well as that the then mayor of Belgrade not awarded the title of doctor. After a series of vicissitudes and various confrontations in the public, the expert commission was formed only at the beginning of 2019, and its decision was almost identical to the one from 2016 - "there are certain parts of the text of the dissertation that can be considered controversial", but also "if if those parts were excluded from the dissertation, it would not lose any of its importance and scientific contribution".
After that, in May of this year, Karapandลพa filed a public appeal (also published in "Peลกฤanik" and addressed to the rector of the University of Belgrade, Ivanka Popoviฤ) against the decision of the Academic Council of the Faculty of Organizational Sciences (FON) to adopt the report of the Ethics Commission of the FON- a, based on the report of the FON Expert Commission. In this complaint/text, Karapandลพa recalls the old ones and cites new, unambiguous and easily verifiable evidence that confirms that the work of Sinisa Mali is ordinary plagiarism. The professor showed that the Minister of Finance "systematically copied and directly translated the text", "copied the illustrations", and "even the style of letters from other authors, and that on dozens of whole pages". "He even copied the conclusions word for word," says Karapandza. In July, the Board for Professional Ethics overturned the decision of NNV FON.
After Karapandzha's public complaint, a large-scale campaign was launched against him, and the government decided to use various heavy weapons. Even the "academic" ลฝeljko Mitroviฤ, who "discovered the secret of Professor Karapandลพa", got involved in the whole story. Namely, says Mitroviฤ, Karapandลพa accuses Mali of plagiarism because the minister stood in the way of Karapandลพa's "combinations with banks". "Alo" writes that Karapandza has been campaigning for years against Malog for plagiarizing his doctorate "although he did not present a single piece of evidence". A certain student-expert Aleksandar Jakลกiฤ, who previously accused professor Danica Popoviฤ of plagiarism, got into the story. He, and the tabloids report, determined that Professor Karapandza's doctoral dissertation "could be contested." All in all, another demonstrative, dirty and heartless campaign, which could be interesting for analysis - by students of media studies or research-analytical centers.
"VERDICT" BOTH FOR THE CHILD AND FOR SOCIETY
In July, the Committee for Professional Ethics annulled the decision of NNV FON because it determined that the opinion of the Expert Commission of FON, on the basis of which the decision of the Faculty's Teaching and Research Council was made, was "incomplete, unclear and contradictory" and it was returned to FON- in for reconsideration. That reconsideration resulted in a public condemnation, which, if the experts are to be believed, would have resulted in the annulment of Sinisa Malog's doctoral dissertation.
If, however, for any reason (the reasons, of course, we can easily guess), a decision is made with the help of which, despite strong evidence of plagiarism, Siniลกa Mali will emerge as the winner - it will be a strong, probably the strongest blow to the academic to the community and the University of Belgrade, an institution that somehow managed to keep its head above water even in these terrible, stormy, progressive-charlatan times. And the big question is whether the University will ever recover after that. In this sense, the "judgment" that will be handed down on November 22 will not only be a "judgment" for Sinisa Malog's doctorate, but also for the entire society.
On the other hand, if a decision is made that it is plagiarism, it will be an extremely strong slap to the progressive government, which will be commensurate with the enormous energy it invested to prevent this from happening.
There is, of course, the third option - that everything be prolonged again for some time in the future.
Ognjen Radonjiฤ points out for "Vreme" that a doctoral dissertation is by definition the product of independent scientific research work. "If this is not the case, no university in the world has a future because it loses its purpose of existence." Our goal is to motivate students to be intellectually curious, innovative, persistent, persistent and to be, together with us, protectors of the universal value principles of academic honesty and integrity. What worries me far more in this particular case is the scale of the machinery that was set in motion to defend the indefensible," says Radonjiฤ.
