On January 11, 2010, displaced persons in the Gori district held protests throughout the day. The demonstrations began in the Karaleti settlement, where IDPs blocked the main Tbilisi–Senaki highway, demanding the restoration of electricity. That day, Energo-Pro Georgia cut off electricity to the 400-household settlement, sparking outrage among residents. Their debts ranged from 100 to 500 GEL.

At the time, the state had been covering 100 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month for families displaced by the 2008 war, but this subsidy was discontinued in October 2009. Protesters said they had not been informed beforehand that starting in October they would have to pay for electricity themselves. They refused to pay the debt, arguing that the government’s promise to exempt them from utility payments for 18 months had not been fulfilled. The displaced residents also said they did not trust the energy company’s data and demanded verification of the meter readings.

The protesters blocked the central highway, but only for a few minutes, as police dispersed the rally. Demonstrators claimed that law enforcement officers had physically assaulted women during the operation.

Later, a confrontation broke out between Energo-Pro Georgia representatives and the displaced residents. Company representative Giorgi Balakhashvili stated that all residents had to pay their debts; otherwise, power would not be restored.

The company later offered IDPs a compromise: each family could initially pay 20 GEL, which would be deducted from the 100-kilowatt allowance previously covered by the state. Deputy Minister of Refugees and Accommodation Andro Chulukhadze also arrived at the protest, questioning the accuracy of the meter readings and the resulting bills reported by the energy company.

While the protest in Karaleti was still ongoing, another group of displaced persons from the nearby Khurvaleti settlement also blocked the central highway with the same demand. Police again used force to disperse the demonstrators. Unlike in Karaleti, the IDPs in Khurvaleti had been without electricity for five days and had no access to natural gas or firewood.