38 university rectors criticise academic boycott over bill

Rectors of 38 universities have addressed the academic boycott by students and professors over the foreign agents law, saying that “a political process must remain outside the academic space” and that “it is unacceptable that several academic personnel refuse to perform their duties”, ie, to give lectures, despite the current situation amid the infamous law, reports Civil.ge. The governing councils of the Caucasus University and the International Black Sea University later took back the signature on the statement, an update on the article indicated.

The rectors emphasise that “the education of young people in a free and non-discriminatory environment is a fundamental basis for our European future” and that political processes “must not interfere with the functioning of the universities and the conduct of the academic process”.

The rectors’ statement, which was not signed by some leading universities, including Ilia State University and the Free University of Tbilisi, has been met with criticism as many students, as well as many of their professors, take the view that the struggle for the country’s European future on the streets takes precedence over attending lectures in a business-as-usual manner. According to Reuters, the bill, which would require organisations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as “agents of foreign influence”, has sparked a political crisis in Georgia, where thousands have taken to the streets to demand the bill be withdrawn.
Full report on the Civil.ge site