Direct elections for Tbilisi mayor were held for the first time, with the United National Movement receiving 86.4% of the seats nationwide.

In spring 2009, various opposition parties initiated anti-government protests, demanding Mikheil Saakashvili's resignation.

Ugulava's initiative was approved by the President of Georgia, who addressed the UN General Assembly on 25 September 2009 and expressed his readiness for direct elections of all mayors in 2010.

[1] Nevertheless, on 28 December 2009, the Parliament of Georgia approved legislative changes that only established direct mayoral elections in Tbilisi.

The main candidates in this election were Gigi Ugulava, incumbent mayor of Tbilisi, Irakli Alasania, Georgia's former Ambassador to the United Nations, Gia Chanturia, member of the Christian-Democratic Movement, Zviad Dzidziguri, veteran politician and the leader of the National Council, and Gogi Topadze, leader of the Industrialists.