On June 20, 2019, the appearance of Russian MP Sergei Gavrilov in the Georgian Parliament sparked a wave of public outrage. The ensuing protest was dispersed by police using tear gas and rubber bullets. Although the Speaker of Parliament resigned, public anger over the violent crackdown persisted. On June 22, thousands of people — mostly civil activists and young demonstrators — gathered again, demanding that the 2020 parliamentary elections be held under a fully proportional system. They gave the Minister of Internal Affairs, Giorgi Gakharia, three hours to resign.

A solidarity photo campaign soon spread on Facebook. People around the world posed with one hand covering an eye to support the protesters in Tbilisi — several of whom had lost an eye during the dispersal. The campaign was initiated by a Georgian seafarer, Buka Girkelidze. The image of a hand over one eye, often paired with a red eye patch, became the symbol of the protests. Slogans like “I see you even with one eye” and “Don’t blind me” appeared on posters, songs were written — such as “Gamodi Garet” (“Come Outside”) by Moku T and Tato Rusia — and street art depicting Kartlis Deda (Mother of Georgia) covering one eye appeared near Rustaveli Avenue.

On June 24, protesters placed a bust of the Interior Minister, Giorgi Gakharia, with a bandaged eye in front of Parliament — it remained there for weeks. That same day, demonstrators organized a motorcade called “Honk Against Occupation,”driving through Tbilisi with flags and horns blaring.

Later that evening, protesters celebrated what they called their “first victory”: Bidzina Ivanishvili, chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, announced that the 2020 elections would be held under a fully proportional system with no electoral threshold. Civil society groups welcomed the move as a result of “consolidated and determined” protest.

Still, rallies continued daily. Activists Beka Basilia and Vakhtang Sikharulidze went on hunger strike demanding Gakharia’s resignation but stopped on July 13 due to health issues. On June 27, Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze postponed his annual address to Parliament, and the new Speaker, Archil Talakvadze, acknowledged that it was impossible to proceed under such circumstances.

On June 29, a mass march titled “March for Freedom” was held in Tbilisi, with parallel rallies in Batumi, Zugdidi, and Gori. On July 1, the ruling party formally submitted constitutional amendments to transition to a fully proportional electoral system.

By the fourteenth day of protests, music replaced speeches on the main stage, and artists held a concert on Rustaveli Avenue. One month after “Gavrilov’s Night,” on July 20, the “Shame Movement” organizers plastered Tbilisi with posters showing people covering one eye, reading: “I’ve been watching you with one eye for a month — and I’ll never close the other again.” They also held a street market, pledging 20% of proceeds to support protest activities.

On July 22, activists announced a new phase — “Shame Live” — daily public broadcasts from Rustaveli Avenue at 20:20 each evening. This evolved into an official civic organization, Shame Movement, registered on December 10, 2019. The broadcasts featured public discussions on social and political issues. The final (41st) episode took place on September 18, the 91st day of protest, followed two days later by a major rally titled “Together Against One” under the slogan “Come Outside.” Supporters from across Georgia joined online through the hashtag #აქედანაცსირცხვილია (“#ShameFromHere”), posting solidarity photos from various locations — even from Mount Kazbek, where alpinist Zura Kvesitadze raised a protest banner.

Slogans like “Take Back the Country” and “Everyone Minus One” defined the next phase. On November 14, 2019, Parliament — dominated by Georgian Dream — voted down the promised constitutional amendment for fully proportional elections. Only 101 MPs supported it (113 votes were needed). The reversal broke the pledge given after the June protests and triggered resignations from eight ruling party MPs, including Tamar Chugoshvili, Sophie Katsarava, and Tamar Khulordava. Ivanishvili said he was “disappointed,” as did President Salome Zurabishvili and Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia.

That evening, a new wave of protests began. Opposition parties and civil activists gathered outside Parliament, demanding early elections under a transitional government. Protesters blocked Rustaveli Avenue and set up tents and heaters. One organizer, gastroenterologist Jaba Zarkua, even treated patients inside a protest tent under the slogan “The consultation fee is solidarity.”

On November 17, demonstrators again surrounded Parliament, locking its gates with padlocks and setting up more tents. Ombudsman Nino Lomjaria held the parliamentary majority responsible for the unrest. The rally was dubbed “Everyone Minus One.”

On November 18, police dismantled the barricades, using water cannons to clear the area and detaining 37 protesters. Demonstrations spread to other regions — opposition activists staged “Lockdown protests” at MPs’ offices, symbolically sealing their doors with padlocks. Members of the Girchi party protested outside the State Security Service with a banner reading “Georgia Will Not Be Silenced.”

On November 25, another large rally took place near Parliament. At dawn on November 26, police again used water cannons to disperse protesters and arrested 28 people. The government fenced off nearby streets with metal barriers.

Protests continued sporadically through December. On December 12, police detained 16 people, including opposition leader Giorgi Vashadze and two members of the Lelo movement. On December 20, Georgian Dream proposed a mixed electoral model — 100 proportional and 50 majoritarian MPs — which was later modified to a 120/30 ratio for the 2020 elections. The majoritarian system was not abolished entirely, but its share in Parliament was reduced.