Students protesting the initiative to merge Tbilisi State University (TSU) with Georgian Technical University are holding a demonstration near the first building of TSU.

At the same time as the protest, a meeting of the Academic Council is taking place at the university, where the issue of the university merger is being discussed.

As for the students, they are not being allowed into the building by the university’s security service, which explains the restriction as a security measure.

According to the students, they had received a promise from TSU Rector Jaba Samushia that a certain number of students would be allowed to attend the meeting.

“Yesterday, we contacted Jaba Samushia and told him that we wanted to attend the Academic Council meeting. He told us that a certain number of students would be allowed to attend the session. However, today the university security is not letting us into the building. The security says that we are not being allowed inside due to security measures.

Unfortunately, we are in complete confusion and do not understand what is happening. That is why we wanted to attend the Council meeting - to understand their positions.

At this stage, we do not have specific plans, but we demand that the rector meet with us publicly.

As for the students of the Technical University, we are in communication with them and are planning to talk and do something together,” said Megi Diasamidze.