Protests to save Gudiashvili Square began at the end of 2011. On December 20, the public learned that a multifunctional development project was planned for the historic square. That same day, Tbilisi City Hall issued a statement saying: “The priority is the full preservation of the cultural heritage of the historic buildings and urban fabric on Gudiashvili Square” and that “structural reinforcement and restoration of historical façades are planned.”

Just a few days later, on December 24, around 100 people gathered on Gudiashvili Square to demand that City Hall reinforce the deteriorating buildings and hold a public discussion about the redevelopment project.

Under the slogan “Strengthen Gudiashvili”, the protest continued into 2012, after the property owner company “Irao Magnat Gudiashvili” began construction works. Demonstrations became regular, featuring art exhibitions, concerts, and creative performances. One of the most striking was by artist Natalia Nebieridze — a breastfeeding mother who staged a performance titled “Mother’s Milk to Save Gudiashvili Square,” pouring her milk into cups and selling it for 50 tetri to symbolize nurturing and preservation.

On April 19, 2013, it was announced that the rehabilitation works on the square had been suspended. The Tbilisi Development Fund, under City Hall, stated that ownership of all property on the square had been returned to the municipality. According to Netgazeti, investor withdrawal in December 2012 revealed that the main demolitions during the project had been initiated by the Tbilisi Development Fund and City Hall themselves.

In 2014, the civic group Tiflis Hamkari signed a memorandum with mayoral candidate Davit Narmania, who pledged that, if elected, he would preserve the square’s historical appearance. After Narmania became mayor, the Georgian branch of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS Georgia) developed a conservation plan for the square and surrounding area in 2016. Based on that plan, restoration began in spring 2018, and Gudiashvili Square officially reopened on October 26, 2021.