Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze responded to complaints from a number of Georgian artists that the authorities do not invite them to perform at New Year’s concerts in any regions. Among those who complained were Nino Katamadze (participated in protests), Sopho Nizharadze (mother of the 3-year-old daughter of arrested ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili), Merab Sepashvili (his supporter) and others.

Singer Merab Sepashvili believes that he is being blocked due to political preferences. He has never hidden the fact that he is a supporter of Saakashvili and the largest opposition party he founded, the United National Movement.

“We never interfered or made a decision where I decided who should sing, who should perform, what the presentation and design should be. All this is done by qualified people. Maybe when they were in power, they themselves did this and now they think that others are doing the same,” Kaladze said.

On December 31, a large gala concert will take place in Tbilisi on the First Republic Square. According to media reports, the event will cost the capital's authorities almost 719 thousand lari (about 265 thousand dollars). Concerts on New Year's Eve will also be held in the regions.