She explained that she was entirely reliant on what she described as a meagre state pension to support herself and her grandchildren. It was only before the election that local Georgian Dream representatives recognised her need for further financial help.

An 80-year-old retired teacher told me she had never witnessed protests in Tsalenjikha before, adding that her grandchildren had travelled from the town to join the recent demonstrations in Tbilisi i.e. on the other side of the country.