Russian sanctions imposed in the wake of the spy row are not only affecting Georgians living in Russia: they are being felt in Tbilisi too. Georgian pupils and teachers were not allowed to lessons at the Isani district 9th public school on October 4. This school operates under the auspices of the Russian Military Headquarters in the South Caucasus and is not controlled by the Georgian Ministry of Education and Sciences, a Georgian newspaper, The Messenger, reported on Friday.
The order to ban Georgian teachers and pupils from the school was received from Moscow on Wednesday. Parents, pupils and teachers were informed by a notice placed in the school's window.
"The only reason for this decision was that we are Georgian citizens. I do not know who ordered this, but it is obvious that this was an important Russian official," teacher Ambakur Bahgdasarian said on Wednesday.
In total eighty pupils and twenty-five teachers who have Georgian citizenship have been excluded from the school.
"When we came to school we saw the statement saying that we were not allowed in the building. All the doors were locked. I don't know the reason," pupil Irakli Maruashvili said on October 4.
The school does not have a license from the Georgian Ministry of Education and Sciences.
"The qualifications awarded by this school do not correspond with Georgian legislation and will not be recognized anywhere," Bela Tsipuria, Deputy Minister of Education and Sciences, explained.
"The fact is shocking. It is an expression of racism. I want to say that I pity the people who made this decision," Education Minister Kakha Lomaia declared.
The minister promised to help all the students affected find places at other Tbilisi schools, and said that teachers who had been forced out of their jobs would be able to find work in the rest of the Georgian educational sphere.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee, Kote Gabashvili, said the decision to ban Georgian citizens from the school was proof of anti Georgian "hysteria", and showed that "Russia does not have right to be a peacekeeper and mediator in Georgian politics."
Along with Georgian pupils, citizens of Italy, Azerbaijan, Armenia and other countries study at the school. On October 4 they had lessons as usual.
KC
Our button
print version
