Ilia State University: Highest Collegial Governing Boards’ Statement
Announcements
On 3 February 2026, the Parliament of Georgia, under an accelerated parliamentary procedure, through three hearing sessions adopted the second package of legislative amendments to the ‘Law on Higher Education’, which, among other issues, legalizes the reorganization of higher education institutions.
Through the amendments to the Law of Georgia on Higher Education – both the first package (16 December 2025) and the second package (4 February 2026), the Government of Georgia has legally secured the right to undermine the institutional autonomy of higher education institutions and to restrict academic freedom, which contradicts the Constitution of Georgia.
Ilia State University’s highest collegial decision-making boards consider the legislative amendments unacceptable, as they conflict with Article 27 of the Constitution of Georgia.
We deem it inadmissible to make decisions on fundamental issues of education through an accelerated procedure without agreement with the public.
We demand the inviolability of academic freedom and institutional autonomy guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia.
▪️Academic Board, Ilia State University
▪️Representative Board, Ilia State University
▪️Faculty Board, Faculty of Arts and Sciences
▪️Board, School of Law
▪️Faculty Board, Natural Sciences and Medicine
▪️Faculty Board, Business, Technology, and Educatio
2026