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We, the below signatories issue this statement in reaction to recent developments at Tbilisi state University and urge the Ministry of Internal Affairs to take effective measures to ensure safety inside and outside the university building, and provide steadfast protection to freedom of assembly. 

The situation at the university has escalated during the last two days. Rallies by Auditoria 115 have been challenged by counter-rallies by the students’ self-government and its supporters. 

While the police does not allow supporters of Auditoria 115 inside the building, certain groups associated with the self-government including aggressive groups whose members were masks, are able to get inside the building. Representatives of Auditoria 115 and the faculty members have stated that in individual cases the police did not thwart and prevent the invasion of the building by the counter-rally participants. Members of the self-government and their supporters engaged in a number of violent incidents, including assaulting reporters and interfering with journalistic reporting. 

The police was mobilized at the scene but without a strategy or a plan for ensuring order and safety inside the university, which promotes risks of physical confrontation and violent attacks between the parties. The fact that many actions of participants of the counter-rally and their supporting groups fell outside the scope of freedom of assembly is also indicative of serious threats. 

Neither the police nor the university security service employ uniform regulations for granting the assembly participants access to the building. The practice of allowing monitoring organizations at the university premises is also inconsistent. Lack of a uniform safety and access regime promotes escalation of the situation and increases the likelihood that the processes will spiral out of control. 

In light of the foregoing, the below signatories urge:

• the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and Tbilisi State University security service to ensure safety inside and outside the building immediately and allow realization of participants’ right to peaceful assembly; 

• the Government of Georgia to launch a probe into the illegal activities of the so-called ODRs; 

• the Government of Georgia to express a clear political will to take into account legitimate requests of students and launch a fundamental reform of education system based on academic freedom. 

 

Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC)

Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF)

International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED)

Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association

„Multicultural Georgia" (PMMG)

Civil Development Agency (CiDA)

Transparency International - Georgia

Union Sapari

Women’s Movement

Institute for Development and Freedom of Information (IDFI)

Association Green Alternative

Caucasian House

Community Development Center 

Eastern Partnership Art and Culture Council 

Taso Foundation

Article 42 of the Constitution 

Tolerance and Diversity Institute