A group of students and protesters, outraged by the university’s involvement in the dispersal of a peaceful demonstration against the October 26 election results, occupied an auditorium at Tbilisi State University (TSU) in the early hours of November 19, and have since moved their protest to the university territory and nearby street. The protesters are demanding the resignation of TSU Rector Jaba Samushia after footage emerged showing police forces entering the university grounds before the demonstration was forcefully dispersed.
The students are calling for accountability and an end to what they see as the university’s betrayal of its academic mission. They have held a number of public lectures at the university, inviting their peers to join the protest and raise awareness about the anti-regime demonstration. The demonstration, which began as part of the Coalition for Change and Unity National Movement’s 24-hour protest on Monday, has since expanded, with tents pitched around the university building. Protesters blocked traffic on surrounding streets, including Melikishvili Avenue and Chavchavadze Avenue, with several participants providing food, hot drinks, and blankets.
Police Crackdown and Arrests
During a confrontation between the police and the rally participants on Melikishvili Avenue on Tuesday, which kicked off after the police tried to remove the protesters and tents from the area, three individuals—Isako Devidze, Irakli Andghuladze, and Davit Tsotsoria—were arrested. Based on court rulings, Devidze and Tsotsoria were sentenced to 8 days of administrative detention, while Andghuladze was fined 2,700 GEL. Judge Koba Chagunava issued the detention sentence for Devidze, while Judge Nino Enukidzie sentenced Tsotsoria. Andghuladze’s fine was imposed by Judge Lela Tsagareishvili.
A total of 16 people were arrested during the incident, with three of them later released. The remaining detainees are currently in temporary isolation cells, with their administrative detention period to expire on Friday morning at 08:00. At this stage, only the three individuals mentioned above have been tried, though others are still awaiting legal outcomes.
The protests, which stemmed from the alleged rigging of the elections in favor of the ruling Georgian Dream party, have been met with a heavy police response. Many of those detained report physical assault by police officers. One of the detained individuals, cameraman Sergi Baramidze from Mtavari Arkhi, was injured by police while documenting the protest. He was assaulted by around 10 officers, resulting in an eye injury. The Special Investigation Service announced it will investigate the incident.
Professors and Academics Condemn University’s Actions
In response to the university’s role in the dispersal, the Georgian University Society issued a statement on November 19, strongly condemning the misuse of TSU space and the excessive force used by law enforcement to break up the peaceful protest. The statement, signed by professors, lecturers, and doctoral students from higher educational institutions across Georgia—some 450 people in all—condemned the actions as a violation of the university’s mission.
The statement read: “The university, which should always be a sanctuary for open academic debate, closed its doors to students and allowed law enforcement agencies to forcibly disperse peaceful protesters, including its own students. This action insults the university as a symbol of freedom and progress, violates academic independence, and contradicts its historical mission.”
Professors emphasized that educational institutions, especially TSU, as the first national university of Georgia, should be places where fundamental rights such as freedom of expression are safeguarded. They declared that the university’s actions violated the core principles on which educational institutions are founded.
The statement also pointed to the responsibility of TSU’s Academic Council and Rector Samushia for failing to address the issue and remain silent in the face of these violations. “Any administration that ignores the rights of students and freedom of expression will face strong opposition from the academic community,” the professors declared.
By Team GT
