STAYED FOR "EXTENDED TIME"

DETAILS

On July 3, members of the Grand Academic Council of Tbilisi State University, recently disbanded by President Mikheil Saakashvili's decree, adopted a statement to reinstate the council's powers. The council also elected a "rector"...

On July 3, members of the Grand Academic Council of Tbilisi State University, recently disbanded by President Mikheil Saakashvili's decree, adopted a statement to reinstate the council's powers. The council also elected the "rector" of the university, Professor Jemal Mebonia. After that, a large group of rebellious teachers went straight to the office of and. O. Georgy Khubua, rector of TSU, informing him of the decision of the "academic council". However, Khubua did not leave the cabinet.

The rebellious teachers, who were persistently escorted out of the office, occupied a large assembly hall. Later they were joined by representatives of some opposition parties. The patrol police blocked the exits from the hall, letting those who wanted out, but not letting anyone inside. The prisoners of the assembly hall, however, remained there all night, making political statements. Most of all, in the current situation, representatives of the university opposition were worried about the inaccessibility of toilets and water.

The professors dispersed only towards the evening of 4 July. Dzhemal Mebonia and other leaders of the opposition-minded teachers said that the fight would continue. Representatives of the opposition parties did not miss the opportunity to once again demand the resignation of the president and government.