On March 14, 1998, local self-government elections were held in Abkhazia, sparking a new wave of protests in Georgia and renewing demands for the return of displaced persons. Around 1,000 Georgian youth blocked the Enguri Bridge, declaring they would not reopen it until the March 19 CIS leaders’ summit. Their goal was to draw international attention to the Abkhazian conflict and demand the unconditional return of displaced people.

By March 17, more than 5,000 people had joined the rally near the village of Rukhi, including supporters brought from other regions of Georgia. The protest continued with a march toward the peacekeeping forces’ checkpoint near the Enguri Bridge. According to Droni newspaper, “the organizers could barely restrain the demonstrators, who demanded passage through the post and entry into Abkhazia.”

One organizer, Bezhan Gunava, declared: “If the Abkhaz issue is not resolved through peaceful negotiations, no weapon in the world can stop us!” Protesters shouted slogans like: “Tremble, Russia! Your time is up—leave and take the separatists with you!” They urged the UN to speed up the resolution of the conflict and called on the CIS summit to adopt a decision on the unconditional return of displaced Georgians.

However, when the March 19 summit was postponed, the protesters’ demands and the continuation of their campaign were left in uncertainty.

Alongside the Enguri Bridge protests, displaced persons from Abkhazia and South Ossetia also rallied in front of the Russian Embassy in Tbilisi. Demonstrators carried slogans such as: “Illegal elections in Abkhazia are Russia’s responsibility,” “Stop the so-called peacekeeping operation in Abkhazia,” and “Russian occupation forces must leave Georgia.” Russian Ambassador Stanewski refused to meet with the protesters.

By late March 1998, protests resumed at the Enguri Bridge with revised demands. This time, Georgian youth called for Georgian-Abkhaz dialogue without mediators. A planned April meeting between Abkhaz elders and Mingrelian intellectuals was canceled when the Abkhaz side and Russian peacekeeping commanders failed to attend. According to the executive secretary of the youth wing of the Citizens’ Union of Georgia, peacekeeping commander Korobko even sent a letter labeling the demonstrators “blackmailers.”

In response, ten young activists launched a hunger strike, adding a new demand: an official apology from Korobko. Displaced persons from Kutaisi arrived to support them, holding banners reading: “Abkhazians, your future is with Georgia!” “Abkhazians and Georgians do not need mediators!” and “1998 is the year to resolve the Abkhazian conflict!”

The protest was organized by the youth wing of the Citizens’ Union. After nearly 40 days of demonstrations, organizers declared that the campaign would conclude with a major rally on April 28 in the village of Rukhi, bringing together around 500 representatives of youth organizations. The rally took place, opened by MP Bezhan Gunava of the Citizens’ Union, followed by speakers from Poti, Ozurgeti, Chkhorotsku, and other regions.

The final resolution reaffirmed the protesters’ core demands: the unconditional return of displaced persons, peaceful resolution of the conflict, and restoration of Georgia’s territorial integrity. The demonstrators agreed to suspend the protest temporarily to give politicians time to pursue peace, but warned that if the upcoming CIS summit ignored their demands, they would restart their campaign.