Giorgi Sharvashidze, Tbilisi State University Rector since 2016 has filed a resignation to the University’s Academic Council amid rumors that the ruling party is about to replace him with a more favorable candidate.
Opposition Mtavari TV aired a report claiming Mr Shervashidze was forced out following a disagreement with Culture Minister Thea Tsulukiani, a hardliner in Georgian Dream (GD).
The report claimed the Government intends to replace Mr Sharvashidze with Jaba Samushia, a former Georgian Dream member of Tbilisi City Council and an Ivanishvili loyalist.
Multiple pro-GD pundits and public figures hurried to congratulate Mr Samusha despite the fact that he has not even been nominated.
The move has triggered anger amongst students. Many of them say the future rector will lack legitimacy due to “sham elections.”
Legally, Tbilisi State University rectors are elected by its council, and government has nothing to do with the process.
According to the TSU student movement, the government has already selected a probable candidate, The students believe they are left alone in face of systemic injustice and that they intend to protect and reform the autonomy of Tbilisi State University.
Samushia is currently a head of Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation and had previously been subject to accusations of corruption and plagiarism.
On October 9, Samushia claimed the spread of the news on his appointment to be a “disinformation of several media outlets.”
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