The large Gldani Lake — also known among locals as Gldani Lake, White Lake, or Big Lake — is located on the outskirts of Tbilisi, in the Gldani district. The lake’s water primarily came from rainfall, so as climate change and rising temperatures intensified, the lake began to dry up. As a result, aquatic plants multiplied, a strong odor developed, and it became unbearable to stay near the lake during the summer months. By the summer of 2023, residents were posting in a closed Gldani Facebook group about the disappearance of one of their cherished childhood recreational spaces.

The first protest to save the lake was held on July 9, 2023. An initiative group was formed, which began collecting signatures.

A few days after the protest gained media attention, members of the initiative group met with Gldani district majoritarian MP Konstantine Zarnadze at the Tbilisi City Council. Representatives from the civic platform “My City is Killing Me” also attended the meeting.

On September 14, 2023, a special Facebook page — Save Gldani Lake — was launched, and a social media campaign began to unite Gldani residents and draw attention from city officials. Activists recorded videos, organized awareness events, and invited journalists to cover their cause. Another protest was held on October 7, when members of the initiative group went around Gldani with megaphones to announce the demonstration.

On November 1, 2023, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze announced that a tender would be announced to assess the condition of the lake. During a city government meeting, he said that the state might reclaim the lake, which had fallen into disrepair under private ownership.

In 2024, the mayor stated that after assessing the situation, the city had decided to refill the lake artificially. Water would be redirected from the Bodorna-Ghrmagheli water conduit operated by the Tbilisi Water Supply Company. By mid-August, the pipes had already been installed, and on September 19, 2024, the process of refilling the dried-up lake began. Residents are now calling for a cleanup of the lake.