Members of Georgia’s academic community gathered at Tbilisi State University (TSU) on the evening of November 20 in a show of solidarity with students who are currently camped out inside the main university building, as part of the ongoing opposition-led “resistance movement” against the results of the Georgia’s disputed October 26 parliamentary election.

On the night of November 19, activists and students from several universities entered the main building of the TSU campus, stating they will vacate the premises only on the condition of the resignation of the university rector, Jaba Samushia, who they accuse of collaborating with government authorities and restricting student protesters’ access to the building. 

Students were enraged by Samushia’s alleged decision to permit riot police to use the TSU courtyard as a deployment base in the early hours of the morning on November 19, from where they mobilised to violently crack down on a peaceful opposition protest encampment on the Chavchavadze Avenue intersection just yards from the university building. Throughout the day, protesting students were barred from entering the university grounds and buildings, only gaining access later in the evening, and remaining there overnight and throughout the following day.

From the TSU courtyard on the evening of November 20t, a group of lecturers presented a manifesto signed by over 600 professors, lecturers and doctoral students from various Georgian universities condemning that security forces were allowed onto university premises and displaying their support for the demands of the students. Apart from the rector’s resignation, protesters’ demands include a new round of parliamentary elections under neutral international supervision.

“We share the will of the younger generation to protect our European path,” read the joint statement, as reported by the local Netgazeti platform. “It is our duty to stand where the voices of students fighting for freedom are heard. The university cannot become a closed space or an party to violence; it must remain a centre of freedom, critical thinking and progress,” the academics continued.

According to a post on X by Georgian journalist Anna Gvarishvili, Samushia attempted to appease the students with coffee and baked goods, which he left inside the university for protesters to help themselves. “Not a single one of them touch the package,” Gvarishvili tweeted.

Also present at the protest on the evening of November 20 were several representatives of Georgia’s pro-Western opposition forces, who directed their supporters to join them in the university courtyard at 7pm. Dr. Anna Dolidze, one of the leaders of the Strong Georgia coalition, attempted to enter the university building to support the students inside, but she was denied entry by university security, who also blocked more students from entering and joining the sit-in. 

“TSU has turned into a Soviet prison,” Dolidze said. "We came to express our support. It is disgraceful that the cradle of education operates under such restrictive conditions. This is what these young people are fighting against, what the entire country is fighting against — Sovietisation. This is a clear symptom of it”, the opposition politician continued. “I wanted to meet with the students, show my support, and bring them coffee. But the level of control here is astounding, like a fortress where not even a bird can enter. This is shameful," she concluded.