On September 27, 2023, a protest took place in front of the Tbilisi State Conservatoire named after Vano Sarajishvili against the cancellation of the rector’s elections. Musicians, civil society representatives, and members of the film and theater communities attended the demonstration.

The protest was announced by pianist Giorgi Gigashvili after the Conservatoire’s election commission released a statement saying that Minister of Culture, Sports, and Youth Tea Tsulukiani had suspended the rectoral election process. The ministry serves as the supervisory body of the Conservatoire. The minister’s decree was issued two weeks before the election, which had been scheduled for October 10. Students and faculty viewed the ministry’s decision as a restriction on academic freedom.

On September 20, Minister Tsulukiani stated before Parliament that leadership changes were necessary: “This is not a shortcoming in academic work but a major flaw in leadership—mine as well. When leadership fails, the minister must act and replace it,” she said.

The following day, current rector Nana Sharikadze responded: “The Conservatoire’s academic freedom and university autonomy are core values that no one has the right to violate.” Sharikadze had previously expressed criticism of the Ministry of Culture during the protests over the reorganization of the National Film Center.

“It is devastating to think that the insatiable desire to domesticate culture has not gone away. This is dangerous in a society still traumatized by Soviet repression and censorship. We know too well what censorship, repertkoms, and glavlit mean. In the 1920s–30s, this led to catastrophe for our nation, and we still live with its consequences,” she said.

On September 27, the Conservatoire’s Academic Council sent an official appeal to the Minister of Culture, asking her to revoke the decree suspending the elections.

On October 11, the Tbilisi City Court rejected the Conservatoire’s motion to annul Minister Tsulukiani’s September 25 order. Shortly after, Giorgi Shaverzashvili was appointed Acting Rector. In his development plan for the Conservatoire, he wrote: “I consider it necessary to strengthen cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth—the institution overseeing the Conservatoire.”