On June 16, 2009, Gori police arrested Zaal Gudadze, a member of the Republican Party, on charges of transporting ammunition, and Tamaz Tlashadze, an opposition supporter, on charges of drug possession. The court placed both men in two months of pretrial detention. The charges against Gudadze and Tlashadze were deemed unacceptable and unbelievable by part of the opposition and the public. As a result, permanent protests began in Gori demanding their release.

“For the freedom of honorable Gori residents Tamaz Tlashadze and Zaal Gudadze,” “Down with violence, injustice, and the bloody regime!” — with these banners, representatives of the opposition and the public held a silent protest for a month in the square near the Gori Theater. On July 16, local leaders of the Republican Party announced that the protest had proven to be less effective than expected, and they decided to end it and change their strategy.