On March 4, 2005, students from the college affiliated with Tbilisi State Medical University held a protest after the Ministry of Education revoked their privileges, requiring them to take entrance exams like other applicants to continue their studies at the university. The students demanded a meeting with members of parliament, but their request was ignored, and demonstrations continued in the following days.

The students argued that they had signed agreements with the college administration guaranteeing automatic admission to the Medical University without exams.

On March 8, Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli announced that the decision would not be reversed and that all applicants would be required to take entrance exams. On March 14, police dispersed the demonstrators.

After two weeks of unsuccessful protests, 22 students began a hunger strike on March 17. Due to deteriorating health, they took turns fasting, but this form of protest also failed to bring change. The Ministry of Education maintained its decision. The deadline for exam registration expired on April 11, forcing the students to end their protest and take the national entrance exams.