Police deny artists and actors entry into Ministry of Culture building

Law enforcement officers are not allowing artists and actors gathered outside the Ministry of Culture building to enter the premises.

Lika Guntzade, the mother of Andro Chichinadze—an actor detained during recent protests—personally asked officers to let her in, but they refused.

The artists, actors, and representatives of the cultural sector are currently holding a protest rally in front of the Ministry, demanding a meeting with Culture Minister Tinatin Rukhadze. The scene is tense, with loud chanting and noise near the building.

Protesters are shouting: “No to repression” and “Solidarity with Dato Doiashvili.”

For context, the Ministry of Culture recently dismissed David Doiashvili from his position as head of the Vaso Abashidze Music and Drama Theater. The Ministry explained the decision by claiming that despite repeated warnings, the theater’s leadership failed to fulfill its foundational obligations. According to the Ministry, despite continuous funding from the state budget, the theater’s creative activity had been halted for months.

It’s worth noting that several months ago, the theater’s artistic director, Doiashvili, announced a “protest manifesto.” The theater, whose actor Andro Chichinadze was detained during protests, has been on strike for several months.