Students and lecturers at Ilia State University announced a strike starting Monday at 12:00, protesting what they call politically motivated arrests and calling for public solidarity.
Gathered at the university’s ‘A’ building, students expressed support for civic activists Tatia Afriamashvili and Lika Lortkipanidze who were sentenced to 12 days of administrative detention for allegedly insulting ruling party MP Mariam Lashkhi.
“This is about more than one case—it’s about standing up against repression. We call on students and lecturers from all universities to join us,” the students said in a statement.
Activists have also joined the student protest, marching from the Georgian Public Broadcaster building. Demonstrators plan to continue to Rustaveli Avenue and join the ongoing protests in front of Parliament.
The case centers on a May 17 incident in which Afriamashvili and Magda Mamukashvili confronted MP Mariam Lashkhi in a café, shouting slogans such as ‘Freedom to the regime’s captives’ and ‘Down with the Russian regime.’ Lashkhi, who was with her children at the time, filed a complaint which escalated into a sentence.
