On November 3, 1997, around 20 women gathered in front of the Georgian government chancellery. The group included homeless women, grieving mothers, and defrauded depositors, all demanding justice and the restoration of their rights. They said no state institution had been willing to hear their cases, and they sought both a meeting with President Eduard Shevardnadze and a public review of their grievances.

One woman from Mtskheta told 7 Dge newspaper: “They buried my 14-year-old son, but his killer still walks the streets.” Another, who had traveled from Poti, said: “My son’s murderer roams free, bragging that he has paid enough money to avoid punishment.”

Police soon arrived, and tensions escalated. Protester Lamara Dzidziguri collapsed, claiming officers had thrown her to the ground, and was taken away by ambulance. The women appealed to journalists to stay, saying they had overheard an official remark: “If the press leaves, we’ll get rid of them quickly.” Another protester, Natela Goderidze, was accused of organizing the rally and threatened, though other women insisted, “She has nothing to do with it. Our grief united us—we met each other searching for justice.”

Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Sulkhan Papashvili came to speak, but the women refused to leave, vowing to spend the night at the chancellery. They believed Shevardnadze himself was unaware of their plight and would meet them if he knew. Later, MP Elene Tevdoradze promised to raise the issue in parliament. Some of the mothers were escorted to meet the prosecutor, while others were taken inside the chancellery for a promised meeting with Security Council head Nugzar Sajaia, which never happened.

According to the newspaper 7 Dge, the women reassembled the following day, but police dispersed them again, both in front of the chancellery and later outside parliament.