Professors Sue Head of the University – Head of the University v Professors

Professors Sue Head of the University – Head of the University v Professors

Protests continue at Tbilisi State University. The professors’ demands remain the same – cancellation of the job competition and dialogue. The Head of the University is not going to fulfill professors’ demands and waits for the lecturers to be arrested.

It is more then three months since professors from Tbilisi State University started struggling against the Head of the University, Gia Khubua. The protests started after thousands of lecturers were fired from the institute and a competition was opened for the few remaining spaces. A large majority of the lecturers held the job competition to be illegal and refused to participate in it. According to the lecturers, there is no need to participate in reforms that aim to destroy the whole system.

The professors tried to negotiate with the Head of the University from the very first day of the protest, but without any result. Khubua is only open to negotiation if the topic of discussion is not the job competition. He is sure that the professors are afraid of the contest.

When the lecturers were not able to do anything about the competition, they entered Khubua’s room and demanded his immediate dismissal. Khubua called the patrol police and forced the professors to leave the building. The University is now guarded by police. The Minister of Science and Education, Kakha Lomaia, and the Head of the University, Gia Khubua, sent an appeal to the General Prosecutor’s Office, asking for an investigation to be launched.

The professors have given several statements since June 29th. The investigation is still ongoing. Khubua and Lomaia hope that the so called ‘hooligan’ lecturers will be punished. However, the professors think differently - they are suing the Head of the University in court, because he decided to have them locked in the university hall, without access to water or other essentials. Some of the professors asked for medical help.

Since then, the professors have been protesting in front of the University every day. As for the appeal against Khubua, it relies on the following articles of the Criminal Code: 381, 332, 333 and 143. One of the professors, Jemal Mebonia, says:

“Khubua should be punished, as he did not fulfill the Court’s decision. He did not have permission to announce the competition for a five month period after former University Head Rusudan Lortkipanidze left her position. Khubua opened the contest on May 19th, (when it should have been held after July 5th).

Another accusation is that Khubua acted outside of his authority. According to an order, made by the President, only the Head of the University has the right to issue such acts. Khubua gave this right to his deputy, Ivane Bokeria. A third accusation is that he ‘detained’ professors and members of opposition parties in the university hall for one night; we were his hostages. He must be punished for this.”

Khubua does not find these accusations serious and believes that he is not guilty of anything. The Prosecutor has not questioned him yet; however he must give a testimony. The protest in front of the University began again today, filled with students, members of the opposition parties and citizens.

Eka Gulua