Students gathered at Ilia State University have announced a protest against the education reform, scheduled for February 15 at 3:00 PM.

The students demand the “withdrawal of the education reform, the inviolability of university autonomy, and the right to full-fledged education.”

“Today, the ‘Georgian Dream’ party has once again taken an anti-national step and stripped state universities of most of their programs, including Ilia University’s, which effectively means the closure of all of them. This decision threatens the values of the universities, their identity, and Ilia University’s idea of striving for freedom.

We demand the withdrawal of the so-called reform, the protection of university autonomy, and the right to full education.

We also call on professors and academic staff to resist - do not change existing curricula, and protest the cancellation of programs by all possible means. Students, we stand together, supported by our parents, families, and Georgia’s past.

On Sunday at 3:00 PM, we will gather at “Dedaena’s Garden,” near the Dedaena monument. Strength lies in student unity! Let us overthrow the regime and free the captives of conscience!” the students stated.