On December 16, 2002, displaced teachers from Abkhazia held a protest in Kutaisi. They gathered in front of the Imereti office of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia, demanding payment of two months’ salary arrears.

“We have done everything possible within our competence and informed the State Minister as well. I must note that the budget of Abkhazia is in a crisis. We are expecting 500,000 GEL to be transferred from the President’s fund,” said Zaza Chachua, head of the Imereti office of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia, in an interview with Interpress.

According to the teachers, Supreme Council Chairman Tamaz Nadareishvili dismissed their demands by saying: “I have a thousand problems, this is no time for protests.” The displaced teachers expressed outrage that their needs were not included among these “thousand problems.”

At that time, the 4th and 5th general education schools of the Abkhazian Ministry of Education, operating in displacement, were based in Kutaisi.