On June 27, 2005, a musical protest took place in Tbilisi’s Abanotubani district, where demonstrators demanded that the city’s mayor be elected by citizens rather than appointed by the president. Until 2006, mayors in Georgia were presidential appointees; starting in 2006, they were elected by city councils (sakrebulo), and only in 2010 did citizens vote directly for the mayor for the first time. Political parties and civic groups supported the demand and urged President Mikheil Saakashvili and the ruling party to amend the law.

At that time, MP Giga Bokeria had introduced a bill proposing that the Tbilisi City Council elect the mayor from among its own members. The slogan of the protest was “We don’t want a fake mayor — let’s elect a real one!” The action was organized by the New Rights Party, which criticized then-mayor Zurab Chiaberashvili, whose caricature appeared on posters dressed like a Teletubby. According to 24 Saati, “this black-and-yellow protest filled the streets of Tbilisi but ultimately failed to bring results.”

The concert-protest featured performances by popular musicians, including Zumba, Mtsvane Otakhi (Green Room), Paparatsi, and the Kutaisi-based band Outsider. The slogans “Tbilisi’s mayor must be elected by Tbilisians!”, “Choice for the people!”, “Dignity for Tbilisi!”, and “Georgia without violence!” were displayed on one of the sulfur bath domes, while participants collected signatures in support of the initiative.

A few days later, on June 30, members of the National Democratic Party’s (NDP) Tbilisi branch also held a demonstration outside parliament, demanding the direct election of mayors and district governors. Marching from the party headquarters, protesters carried banners reading: “Boycott the appointed council!”, “Referendum — the true transparency test for the CEC!”, and “No to appointed councils!”. According to NDP Presidium member Goga Gogniaashvili, “A government that came to power under the banner of democracy is now burying democracy.”

The protest coincided with the parliamentary debate on amendments to the Law on Tbilisi, which was being discussed in its second reading. Despite public opposition, the bill was passed in its third reading, confirming that the next Tbilisi mayor would be elected by the City Council rather than by popular vote.