Court finds dismissal of museum employee in Georgia illegal

A court in Tbilisi found the dismissal of Dinara Vachnadze, an employee of the National Museum, unlawful and awarded compensation to be paid to her. However, the head of the NGO "Centre for Social Justice" has stated that the compensation amount was understated and intends to challenge the court judgement.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on January 21, 2022, the participants in the rally in Tbilisi demanded the resignation of Minister of Culture, Teya Tsulukiani, who, in their opinion, was firing those employees of state institutions who had expressed dissatisfaction with her policies. On June 17, science and culture workers held a protest action demanding the reinstatement of their fired colleagues.

On May 24, a total of 21 scientists were dismissed from the National Museum, as well as older some older ones who worked as consultants. The dismissal orders were signed by the museum's deputy general director, Nika Akhalbedashvili, who is accused by the Arts Museum and the National Museum of politically motivated persecution and discrimination based on dissent.

Dinara Vachnadze, who was fired from the National Museum, has won a lawsuit against the Georgian Ministry of Culture, said Tamta Mikeladze, the director of the equality policy programme at the above NGO "Centre for Social Justice".

However, the court found it impossible to reinstate Vachnadze in her previous or equivalent position due to the absence of such vacancies.

"The court has appointed only 2000 laris (about USD 740) as compensation, which is an underestimated amount," Ms Mikeladze id sure.

"Authorities want to seize the museum riches; therefore they are firing skilled workers," Karvasla Manana, a museum employee, has stated.