**Theater Director Dismissed Amid Ongoing Protests**
The Ministry of Culture has made a bold move by dismissing Davit Doiashvili, the director of the Vaso Abashidze Music and Drama Theater. This decision comes as the theater and its troupe have played a significant role in the ongoing protests against the ruling Georgian Dream party.
**Background to the Dismissal**
The Ministry claimed that the theater had failed to fulfill its founding objectives. However, many see this as a politically motivated move, especially considering the theater’s involvement in pro-European and anti-GD protests. The statement from the Ministry emphasized that the creative activities of the theater should be carried out continuously, alongside state funding.
**Actor Andro Chichinadze’s Detention**
Theater actor Andro Chichinadze has been detained since December 5 during a police crackdown on pro-EU protesters. In response, the theater announced a strike and issued an ultimatum to the GD party, demanding Chichinadze’s release by January 21. This deadline passed without action.
**Symbolic Performance and Manifesto**
On January 23, artists gathered at the theater for a symbolic performance and presented a manifesto condemning Chichinadze’s arrest. The event drew widespread attention and support from cultural figures and civil society.
**Dismissal Sparks Outrage**
Davit Doiashvili’s dismissal has sparked immediate outrage among artists, cultural figures, and civil society. Many view this move as a direct attack on freedom of expression and the independence of Georgian culture. Actor Bacho Kajaia described it as “another wave of repressions” by the GD government.
**Commentary**
This decision by the Ministry of Culture is a clear attempt to silence dissenting voices within the cultural sector. By dismissing Davit Doiashvili, the authorities are trying to send a message that any form of protest or opposition will not be tolerated. This move sets a worrying precedent for the future of Georgian culture and democracy.
**Analysis**
The dismissal of Davit Doiashvili is part of a broader trend of suppressing dissenting voices within Georgia‘s cultural sector. The theater, with its pro-European stance and anti-GD protests, has become a symbol of resistance against the ruling party. By targeting key figures in this movement, the authorities are trying to break the spirit of opposition.
The symbolic performance and manifesto by artists at the theater were a powerful expression of solidarity with Andro Chichinadze and a call for freedom of expression. The response from cultural figures and civil society has been swift and decisive, condemning the dismissal as a political move aimed at silencing dissenting voices.
As Georgia continues to navigate its complex relationships between Europe and Russia, the suppression of dissenting voices within its cultural sector will only serve to undermine its democratic credentials.
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