23:58, 13 February 2026

A spontaneous student protest preceded a meeting on Rustaveli Avenue.

On the 443rd day of continuous protests in Tbilisi, students and faculty from Ilia State University held a new protest against education reform and announced a mass rally.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on February 12, the 442nd day of continuous protests, students from Ilia State University protested against education reform and held a march from the university building to the Georgian Parliament. At the Parliament, they joined the participants of the daily protest.

The students, like the university administration, spoke out against the government's decision to cut faculties and state-funded places at the university. As a result of the government's decision, Ilia University will lose 90% of its programs and 90% of its students, which means "the de facto closure of one of the country's most successful universities," said Deputy Rector Giorgi Gvalia.

Supporters of Georgia's European integration, carrying national and EU flags, gathered this evening outside the parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue. This protest is in its 433rd consecutive day, Publika reports.

Students and faculty at Ilia University also continued their protest today against the education reform initiated by the Georgian Dream party. Those gathered outside the university building held posters reading, "The University is Autonomous!", "How does the government know what knowledge is?", and "Give the right knowledge that will elevate the Georgian heart and soul, that will open the mind."

According to students, today's protest was spontaneous, although they had announced a pre-organized protest against the reduction of state-funded places at universities – a large-scale rally will take place in Dedaeni Park on February 15.

Students from various university departments are prepared to protest until their demands are met. "We contacted Education Minister Givi Mikanadze and offered a meeting, but the minister didn't show up. My position is this: at this stage, I see no point in talking to them; I see the only solution in protest," Interpressnews quotes Ilia State University student movement activist Khalibeg Magomedov as saying.

Protesters in Georgia have been demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners since November 28, 2024. Security forces have violently dispersed the protests, using tear gas and water cannons, and have detained protesters. Over 1,000 people were subjected to administrative prosecution during the protests. The "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report titled "The Main Thing About the Persecution of Protest Participants in Georgia".

Translated automatically via Google translate from https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/420785