Prepared by Messenger Staff
Georgia Plans Merger of Tbilisi State University and Georgian Technical University
Georgian Dream's Minister of Education, Science, and Youth, Givi Mikanadze, announced plans to merge Tbilisi State University (TSU) and the Georgian Technical University (GTU). A temporary governing body will be created by ministerial order to oversee the process, with acting rectors and vice-rectors appointed to manage the reorganization.
"The launch of this reform is based on in-depth analysis, international practice, and the country's long-term development interests. A comparative review of academic programs, research directions, and infrastructure was conducted. Based on this and consultations with rectors, we decided to merge TSU and GTU. This will help Tbilisi State University become a leading center of academic and scientific development in the region and improve its international rankings," Mikanadze said.
Education researcher Lela Chakhaia criticized the merger, saying it conflicts with longstanding educational traditions and may be motivated by interests in privatizing university property. "This is a battle against educational traditions. We need to understand who was involved in making this decision. Announcing that two universities with such a long history are merging is inconceivable. Likely, the underlying motive is the privatization of buildings," she told journalists.
Chakhaia also expressed doubts about the government's assurances that student quotas and staff numbers will remain unchanged. "They claim there will be no cuts, but I find that improbable. Merging two of the largest and oldest educational institutions is effectively a fight against education," she said.
Former Ally of Russian Ex-Governor Detained in Georgia, Extradition Feared
Mikhail Timofeyev, 60, a former aide and close associate of ex-governor Sergei Furgal, has been detained in Georgia, raising concerns over a possible handover to Russia.
He was taken into custody on January 23 and is being held at Tbilisi's Gldani penitentiary. A Georgian court ordered three months of pretrial detention, which could be extended if Russian authorities submit an extradition request. Timofeyev faces no criminal charges in Georgia.
Timofeyev arrived in Georgia in March 2024 and applied for asylum, citing political persecution in Russia due to his association with Furgal. His request was denied in December 2024, and he appealed the decision in court.
His detention was reportedly prompted by the Georgian Prosecutor's Office based on an Interpol Red Notice from Moscow. Timofeyev's lawyer, however, said the arrest lacks legal basis. The BBC Russian Service reported that Interpol canceled the notice in September 2025, finding the Russian request unsubstantiated. "Georgian authorities know that the Interpol notice was canceled, yet the court and prosecution continue to rely on it," the lawyer said, speaking anonymously.
Health concerns have been raised about Timofeyev. He suffers from multiple chronic illnesses, is disabled, and requires a strict vegetarian diet due to severe allergies. He previously spent eight years in a Russian prison under a conviction later ruled unlawful by the European Court of Human Rights. Human rights activists warn that his continued detention puts his life at risk.
Timofeyev was a close ally of Sergei Furgal, governor of Russia's Khabarovsk region from 2018 to 2020. Furgal was arrested in 2020 and sentenced to 22 years for alleged involvement in murders, a case widely considered politically motivated. Following Furgal's arrest, Timofeyev fled Russia, was charged in absentia in a related case, and sought protection in China and Thailand before arriving in Georgia.
After his asylum request was denied, Timofeyev reportedly felt Georgia was no longer safe. His disability and lack of valid travel documents left him unable to leave the country.
No formal extradition request from Russia has been publicly confirmed. Timofeyev remains in detention as the court considers the next steps.
