Prepared by Messenger Staff
Ministry of Culture Dismisses Davit Doiashvili as Head of Vaso Abashidze Theater
The Ministry of Culture of Georgia has officially dismissed Davit Doiashvili from his position as director of the Vaso Abashidze Music and Drama Theater, citing a prolonged suspension of the theater's creative activities despite ongoing state funding.
In a statement released by the Ministry, officials emphasized that the theater, formally known as the "Vaso Abashidze State Professional Theatre of Musical Comedy and Drama," is a legal entity of public law (LEPL) and, like other state-established entities, is legally obligated to fulfill the goals for which it was founded.
The Ministry noted that the theater had continued to receive funding from the state budget, yet its creative operations had been inactive for months. "Despite repeated warnings from the Ministry of Culture of Georgia, unfortunately, the leadership of the Vaso Abashidze Professional State Theater of Musical Comedy and Drama did not fulfill this obligation envisaged by the founding goals," the statement reads.
According to the Ministry, public theaters must ensure that creative activities are conducted on a regular basis, especially when sustained by public funds. The decision to dismiss Doiashvili was framed as a legal and administrative measure necessary to restore the institution's functioning.
"Therefore, the Ministry of Culture, as the founding agency of the LEPL Vaso Abashidze Music and Drama Theater, has made a legal decision to dismiss the person responsible for the continuous and smooth functioning of the LEPL, the theater's director, Davit Doiashvili," the Ministry stated.
Tbilisi Court Sets GEL 20,000 Bail for Opposition Leader Zura Japaridze
The Tbilisi City Court has imposed a bail of 20,000 GEL on opposition leader Zura Girchi Japaridze as a preventive measure following his refusal to appear before a parliamentary investigative commission established by the Georgian Dream party.
Japaridze, who leads the Coalition for Change, appeared at the court hearing where his defense team contested the proceedings. His lawyer requested the disqualification of Judge Nana Shamatava, citing concerns over potential bias due to her being sanctioned by Lithuania. The court, however, proceeded with the hearing.
Speaking to journalists after the session, Japaridze criticized the court's decision, saying, "In fact, there was no formal basis for using anything as a preventive measure, because I am not going to run away anywhere."
He also stated that he does not intend to pay the bail.
