In reaction to the thousands-strong pro-Ukraine rally in Tbilisi, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared, "indeed, there are moments when citizens are not the government, but better than the government."

"Incredible Georgian people who realise that allies must be backed!" tweeted the President, thanking "everyone in Tbilisi and other places who came out in favour of Ukraine and against the war."

Georgians were also enraged by the government's cautious approach during the conflict, particularly Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili's declaration that Georgia would not join international sanctions against Russia.a

After paying respect to the victims of the 1921 Soviet invasion, Garibashvili stated that imposing sanctions on Russia would affect "national interests and people's interests."

Earlier, Georgia's government would not join any sanctions on Russia, according to Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, who defended Tbilisi's "pragmatic strategy" in the face of a growing international response to Russia's war on Ukraine.

"I want to emphasise clearly and explicitly that, taking into account our national interests and the interests of the people, Georgia does not want to engage in the financial and economic sanctions," Garibashvili told on February 25.

Georgia's central bank declared that it would follow the sanctions placed on Russia's VTB Bank, which has a branch in Georgia, by banning the bank's dollar, euro, and other currency transactions. However, it emphasised that, if required, it would be willing to bail out the bank. "In the event that extra liquidity is required, the National Bank of Georgia stands ready to supply the bank with necessary financial resources," the bank stated in a statement. Later, the bank seemed to change its statement, omitting the mention of the bailout.