In the second half of February 1991, protests against Zviad Gamsakhurdia’s rule intensified. On February 23, the National Independence Party gathered supporters and organized a march from the House of Cinema, where their office was located, toward the government building (today’s parliament). From the balcony of the House of Artists, the “Congressman Orator” (Irakli Tsereteli, representing the National Congress – a faction opposing Gamsakhurdia within the National Movement) joined the protesters, shouting: “Down with him!” The marchers echoed the chants, while from the government building came the response: “Traitors!”

Protests continued on February 25 and 27 along Rustaveli Avenue, with participants chanting: “Down with Gamsakhurdia!” The February 25 rally was secured by a police cordon and a barricade of buses near the government building.

Political commentator Zviad Khoridze, writing for 7 Days, observed: “At a time when an all-Union dictatorship is maturing, talking about a mini-dictatorship is laughable…” He noted that the divided social camps lacked political methods and that debates between the Supreme Council and the National Congress had been removed from the agenda. Within the populist movement of “Gamsakhurdism,” a counter-populist “Anti-Zviadism” was also emerging.