The Ministry of Culture has dismissed director David Doiashvili from his position as the head of the Vaso Abashidze Music and Drama Theater. The decision comes as the theater and its troupe have played a prominent role in ongoing pro-European, anti-GD protests.
In an official statement, the Ministry of Culture cited ongoing concerns, noting that despite multiple warnings, the theater’s management had failed to meet the obligations outlined in its founding mission. Additionally, the Ministry emphasized that the theater’s creative activities have been at a standstill for several months.
The Ministry of Culture’s statement reads:
“The Vaso Abashidze State Professional Music Comedy and Drama Theater is a legal entity of public law (LEPL) established by the state.
As a state professional theater, like any other LEPL, it is accountable and has a legal obligation to fulfill the objectives for which it was founded by the state.
Specifically, the theater’s creative activity must be carried out continuously, just as it receives continuous funding from the state budget.
Despite multiple warnings from the Ministry of Culture of Georgia, unfortunately, the management of the Vaso Abashidze State Professional Music Comedy and Drama Theater failed to meet this foundational obligation. While the theater was receiving uninterrupted funding from the state budget, the creative process had been halted for months.
Therefore, as the founding body of the LEPL Vaso Abashidze Music and Drama Theater, the Ministry of Culture made a lawful decision to dismiss David Doiashvili, the individual responsible for the theater’s continuous and proper functioning, from his position as director.”
Since December 5, actor Andro Chichinadze has been in detention following his arrest during the pro-EU protests. In response, the Vaso Abashidze Theater launched a strike and issued an ultimatum to the ruling Georgian Dream party, demanding Chichinadze’s release by January 21—a deadline that passed without any response.
On January 23, artists gathered at the theater to stage a symbolic performance and unveil a manifesto condemning Chichinadze’s arrest. Theater director David Doiashvili announced that the institution would suspend its regular programming and upcoming productions, opting instead to tour across Georgia, meet with citizens, and advocate for freedom of expression. “Georgian culture is also imprisoned,” he declared, standing in solidarity with the detained protesters. Since then, the theater has performed in numerous regions as part of its ongoing protest.
Doiashvili’s recent dismissal has sparked swift backlash from artists, cultural figures, and civil society members, many of whom see the move as politically motivated. Supporters gathered outside the theater to express their solidarity with Doiashvili and protest the decision.
