Thousands of Georgians have taken to the streets of Tbilisi to protest the inauguration of Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former professional footballer and ally of the ruling Georgian Dream party, as the country’s new president.
This comes at a critical time for Georgia, which recently suspended its bid to join the European Union.
The Georgian Dream party secured a parliamentary election victory in October, but the win was tainted by allegations of fraud, sparking widespread street protests, BBC reports.
Outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili declared on Sunday that she would not step down, asserting herself as the “only legitimate president.”
Speaking to crowds assembled outside, Zourabichvili announced her intention to vacate the presidential palace while denouncing her successor as illegitimate.
“This building was a symbol only as long as a legitimate president was sitting here,” she said.
Mikheil Kavelashvili took the oath of office in a private ceremony at parliament, just a short walk away, accompanied by his family and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.
After being sworn in, Kavelashvili delivered a speech where he emphasised the importance of Georgian traditions, values, national identity, family, and faith.
Zourabichvili rallied protesters outside the palace on Sunday morning, vowing to continue the fight against the controversial inauguration of Mikheil Kavelashvili.
The country’s four main opposition groups have refused to recognize Kavelashvili’s legitimacy and are boycotting parliament in response. As a former MP with the ruling Georgian Dream party and the sole candidate for the position, Kavelashvili’s election has been widely criticized.
Zourabichvili has been outspoken in her condemnation of the election, labeling it a “travesty” and sparking concerns about the country’s democratic future.
Georgia refused to join Western sanctions on Russia after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
It called the West the “global war party”, making a mockery of its stated aim of joining the EU and NATO even though the majority of Georgians back the country’s path to the EU.
In November, the ruling party announced that the government would delay seeking EU accession talks until 2028.
The decision triggered days of protests, during which riot police deployed tear gas and water cannons against demonstrators, who responded by hurling fireworks and stones.
On Saturday, ahead of the inauguration, protesters carrying Georgian and EU flags regrouped, forming a human chain stretching for kilometres.
