Professor Darejan Tvaltvadze was elected Acting Rector of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU) on April 20.
Chairman of the Election Commission, Vasil Gonashvili said that “elections of Acting Rector of TSU were held with full observance of the principles of electoral law. The right of voters to cast their ballots in a free and fair environment was protected. The Election Commission has not received even a single complaint. 967 out of 1311 voters cast their ballots. 54.3% (526 votes) of voters supported Darejan Tvaltvadze. Levan Gordeziani garnered 24.4% (236 votes) of votes; Tsira Baramidze – 11% (107 votes); Giorgi Andriadze – 4% (39 votes). The Election Commission annulled 59 ballot papers.
Archil Kaikatsishvili of NGO Young Lawyers, who acted as an observer during the elections, hailed the elections as democratic and transparent.
After the election results were announced, former Rector of TSU, Academician Vladimer Papava congratulated Darejan Tvaltvadze on her victory in the elections and noted that the elections were held in a calm atmosphere with full observance of all relevant procedures. Papava also said that from tomorrow the Acting Rector will have to fulfill a lot of difficult tasks. “Today is an important day in the history of our university. It is a special day not only because we elected an Acting Rector, but for the first time in Georgia, over 1300 voters were granted the right to elect an Acting Rector. These were large scale elections and the university demonstrated that it is capable to cope with the most difficult situation with dignity.”
“I believe that the university professors, together with our students, will struggle and work to have the better university. For this to happen, the university needs to have legitimate governing bodies – its Academic Council, which is the supreme governing body; Chancellor, whose elections will be held quite soon. This is an important factor and the Acting Rector was elected just for this purpose – to prepare and hold the elections of TSU Rector in a dignified way. Just this is where I see my main mission,” Acting Rector of TSU, Darejan Tvaltvadze said.
After the election results were announced, Darejan Tvaltvadze held a conversation with students. She told the members of student movement Auditorium 115 and Student Self-Governance that her main task is to lead the educational and research activities at the university. At this stage, she said, it is important to ensure democratic elections of legitimate governing bodies, adding that she pins hopes on the support of professors and students. Darejan Tvaltvadze is expected to hold a meeting with students in the near future. She will take office on April 21.
On March 30 the TSU Academic Council accepted Vladimer Papava’s resignation. Elections of Acting Rector were held on April 20 and persons holding academic or scientific positions at TSU with a PhD or corresponding scientific degrees cast their ballots. 16 individuals and 4 non-governmental organizations were involved in election observation.
