In late October 1999, pensioners in Rustavi staged a protest in front of the post office, demanding the distribution of their unpaid pensions. The rally was dispersed by police, who detained sevსeral demonstrators, including Guram Gogbaidze, the local leader of the electoral bloc “People’s Front–Ilia Chavchavadze Society,” who had brought a megaphone.

According to police, the arrests were justified by the unauthorized use of sound amplification equipment. Protesters attempted to block the central highway, but police prevented them, leading to clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement.

Press reports noted that by 1999, Rustavi had around 20,000 pensioners, many of whom were still owed four months of pensions from the previous year and two months from the current year.