Roin Metreveli, who has been the Rector of the Tbilisi State University (TSU) for the past 13 years, filed his resignation to the University’s Great Council on October 1.
At a session of the Great Council, the governing body of the TSU, Roin Metreveli denied accusations that he was pressured by President Mikheil Saakashvili to step down.
Roin Metreveli has been a target of criticism of a portion of the TSU students who accuse Metreveli of heavy-handed rule and corruption.
It is likely that Georgia?s current Ambassador to Italy, Rusudan Lortkipanidze, will replace Metreveli. The outgoing Rector announced on October 1 that he has appointed Dr. Rusudan Lortkipanidze, the Deputy Rector, as his replacement, thus paving the way for her participation in the elections of a new Rector by the Council.
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has already expressed his support for Rusudan Lortkipanidze?s candidacy.