Protesters held demonstrations in Tbilisi for the 636th consecutive day.
Supporters of Georgia's Eurointegration held protests outside the Parliament building and Tbilisi City Council for the 636th consecutive day, demanding the release of political prisoners and transparent elections. University teachers speak of a disaster in the education system as a result of government reforms.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on August 24, on the 635th day of protests against the ruling party's policies in Georgia, participants marked the Independence Day of Ukraine, gathering at the country's embassy in Tbilisi, after which they marched to the Taras Shevchenko monument.
Today, on the 636th day of continuous protests, people gathered in front of the Parliament building and Tbilisi City Council. Participants of the rally traditionally demanded a return to the Euro-Atlantic course, the release of political prisoners, the abolition of repressive mechanisms, and the conduct of elections in a free and fair environment, reports the publication Publika.
Participants held flags of Georgia, the European Union, Ukraine, and the USA. Some participants held placards: "Bidzina, go away", "Don't stop the fight", "The system must be destroyed", and "Applicants, you have been deceived", according to a post by photographer MO SE on Facebook*.
Professor Giga Zedania of Ilia State University calls the ongoing processes in the education system a "national-scale disaster". He wrote about this on his Facebook* page.
According to him, thousands of young people have been left without higher education this year, and students and schoolchildren will have to study in significantly worse conditions due to the artificial shortening of study periods and failed initiatives.
Students and teachers from various universities in Tbilisi, with the support of continuous protest participants, have repeatedly held actions against the education reform in Georgia. In particular, on February 22, a protest took place at Ilia State University in Tbilisi under the slogan: "We defend Iliauni". The action was attended by teachers and students who expressed their disagreement with the decision of the Ministry of Education of Georgia regarding the distribution of quotas for state universities. Earlier, the Minister of Education of Georgia named which state universities and which faculties would accept students, as well as defined quotas - how many students universities could accept.
"Thousands of applicants were unable to enroll in higher education institutions this year. Those who did enroll will have to study in much worse conditions - the quality of programs will significantly deteriorate due to lost years of education; the best programs have been transferred to a short-term mode. At the same time, schooling has officially been reduced by one year, and unofficially - by two," Zedania stated.
In his opinion, most young people will finish general education institutions without basic skills. The only supposedly positive measure that was planned - namely, school uniforms - will be canceled. "The state spent millions on purchasing uniforms supposedly to achieve equality, and now it is said that those who have money will sew better quality uniforms for their children. We are dealing with a national disaster," his statement reads.
Protest participants in Georgia have been demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners since November 28, 2024. Law enforcement has conducted harsh dispersals of protests, using tear gas and water cannons, and detaining protesters. During the protests, thousands of people have faced administrative prosecution. The "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a reference "Main points on the persecution of protest participants in Georgia".