On June 22, 1992, a demonstration of mothers with many children took place in front of the building of the Demographic Society of Georgia. The protest was led by the Society’s Vice President, Ilia Begiashvili. Participants were demanding that the government implement a resolution adopted by the State Council and the Cabinet of Ministers. According to this resolution, mothers with large families were to receive apartments without waiting in line, be exempt from utility payments, enjoy free city transportation, and receive a 50 percent discount on intercity travel.

“Although humanitarian aid arrives in Georgia from nearly every corner of the world—mostly food—this aid often fails to reach those who need it. That is why the protesters express frustration toward the Georgian Patriarchate. They say, ‘We see plenty of food there, but we are not given even a tenth of it,’” reported the newspaper Droni.

The demonstrators called for the full implementation of the resolution and for the establishment of special stores in every district of Tbilisi where products would be sold at discounted prices.

Another demonstration of mothers with many children was held on March 1, 1993, with the same demands:

• Establish Mother’s Day.
• Restore the honorary title “Mother of Kartli” along with its associated benefits.
• Provide housing for large families.
• Exempt them from paying utility fees.
• Grant them the right to free transportation.
• Replace the many ineffective organizations supposedly assisting large families with a single association capable of finding real solutions to their problems.