On March 23, 1999, pensioners in Rustavi began a hunger strike. They demanded the distribution of pensions, an increase in the “beggarly 12 lari” allowance, and stable access to water and electricity. Instead of protesting in front of Rustavi City Hall, they gathered at the post office building, since, according to Kviris Palitra, the Rustavi police chief had threatened them with batons.

The very first day of the protest ended in intimidation. At around 1 a.m., four masked men tore down the posters listing the pensioners’ demands and abducted them in an unknown direction. The newspaper reported that the leader of the protest, Tamaz Chkheidze, was “worked on” both physically and psychologically the next day, after which he urged pensioners to disperse, regroup, and prepare better before protesting again. By the evening of March 24, no pensioners remained at the post office.