On June 15, 2001, former officers of the Tkibuli battalion began a hunger strike outside the Interior Troops Headquarters, demanding the payment of 14 months’ worth of back wages. Although they were no longer serving in the Interior Troops, they had never received their owed salaries.

The hunger strikers met with the commander of the Interior Troops, Gia Shervashidze, but received no encouraging answer. As Dilis Gazeti reported, the officers did not personally blame Shervashidze: “If the Ministry of Finance doesn’t allocate money, how can Gia Shervashidze produce it?” They demanded meetings with both the Interior Troops commander and the Minister of Finance to clarify whether the ministry had actually transferred the necessary funds. “If it did, then who pocketed it? Some servicemen received salaries while others didn’t. Then they told us that wages were frozen. Perhaps our government can explain to us how exactly our salaries can freeze?” the officers asked.

Several hunger strikers were hospitalized as their health deteriorated. Reinforcements arrived from other regions, bringing the number of participants to around 100. The press provides no clear record of how the Tkibuli officers’ hunger strike ultimately ended.