“It’s a heavy situation, because with one stroke of the hand they are cutting everything,” - this is how Sokhumi State University professor Elguja Kavtaradze assessed the decisions made by the Ministry of Education regarding the distribution of quotas in state universities.

The professor made the corresponding statement in the “PalitraNews” program “Political Space.”

Kavtaradze spoke about the meeting held at the university, which was attended by the Deputy Minister of Education and professors.

According to him, students were not allowed into the meeting. The main topic of discussion was which programs should remain and which should not, which the professor considers interference in the university’s autonomy.

“It’s a heavy situation because with one stroke they are cutting everything. In the recent period the emphasis is being placed on Sokhumi State University and Ilia State University. They are destroying Ilia University because it created European-value education with very strong academic staff. It became one of the successful universities in Europe. That’s why they don’t want it. As for Sokhumi University, we know that it is not only educational, but it also carries very strong political weight. You cannot remove the political weight from it until we return to Abkhazia. If we remove the political context from Sokhumi University, it will not exist.

Regarding the meeting: the Deputy Minister of Education was present. A meeting took place with the university professoriate. By the way, students were standing outside. They told me they were not allowed into the meeting - I don’t know why.

The discussion was again about programs: what should remain and what should not remain. Why are you the one planning what should remain and what should not? We were once very strongly betrayed - handed over to the enemy - but there won’t be a second time; no one will concede on this, we’ve had enough of betrayal.

Every lecturer spoke, especially Mr. Zurab (Zurab Papaskiri - professor at Sokhumi University). You should listen to him; he is not the kind of professor you can ignore. He is one of the strongest historians in Georgia. In addition, this person was in captivity. When such a person speaks to you, have at least a little decency,” - stated the professor.

In the program, the professor also raised a question regarding the need to introduce a new status - that of “leading professor.”

“They tell us about the well-known term of a 10,000 GEL salary and leading professor. What does leading professor mean? I think it will perform the role of a Sonder professor. We couldn’t understand why there should additionally be a leading professor. Probably to manage directions. Nowhere is it specified what duties a leading professor has. Why leading and not some other name?” - stated the professor.