According to the statement of the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia , director of the National Examinations Center Maia Miminoshvili was dismissed by the Minister on May 28 “for irreconcilable differences between the Ministry and the personal positions of Maia Miminoshvili”. It is also important that according to the Ministry’s statement, “the controversy between the Minister and [Maia] Miminoshvili had been going on for almost ten months”

We believe that these circumstances produce suspicions about political motive of the dismissal due to the following: if ‘irreconcilable differences’ was in fact the genuine reason of the dismissal, why was Ms Miminoshvili dismissed when year 12 exams are ongoing in schools throughout the country and it is the busiest and the most labor-consuming period for the National Examinations Center. Further, national, MA and teacher’s certificate exams are scheduled to be held in the coming months and there is a risk that this will have an adverse impact on interests of all exam takers. The fact is that the period is rather unsuited for changes in staff especially since the conflict had been going on for 10 months before. Further, it turned out that the day before Maia Miminoshvili was dismissed, his son attended the assembly organized by the coalition Georgian Dream on May 27, followed by Maia Miminoshvili’s dismissal on May 28.

These factual circumstances lead us to believe that dismissal of the head of the National Examinations Center has been politically motivated. Further, in her public comments Maia Miminoshvili herself does not rule out that this is the case.

Regrettably, Maia Miminoshvili is not the only exception as this is not the first case involving a dismissal from work due to political beliefs and activities of a person concerned or his/her family members. GYLA has recently made a number of public statements about these facts.

GYLA also responds to harassment of NAEC’s employees. Specifically, we have been informed that individuals who have written or plan to write letters of resignation have been intimidated and harassed by employees of the Constitutional Security Department within MIA to prevent them from making these decisions. We believe that particular attention must be paid to this matter by the law enforcement authorities. Leaving NAEC is only up to these individuals to decide and any harassment or coercion by any official or particularly by law enforcement authorities is unacceptable.

We demand immediate investigation into alleged harassment and threats and prosecution if signs of a crime are revealed.

GYLA stands ready to provide legal assistance, including service of a lawyer to any employee of the National Examinations Center, if needed.