Mikheil Kavelashvili Sworn In as Georgia's President Amid 31 Days of Pro-EU Protests

Dec 29, 2024, 06:01 AM

In Georgia, thousands of protesters gathered in Tbilisi to oppose the inauguration of Mikheil Kavelashvili as the new president, amid a deepening political crisis. Kavelashvili, a former Manchester City footballer known for his anti-Western stance, was sworn in on Sunday, succeeding Salome Zourabichvili, who has refused to step down, labeling his election as illegitimate. Zourabichvili, supported by pro-EU demonstrators, left the presidential palace but declared herself the only legitimate president, vowing to continue her fight against the ruling Georgian Dream party. The protests, which have continued for 31 days, saw participants forming a human chain to express their pro-EU stance and demand new parliamentary elections following allegations of fraud in the October parliamentary elections won by Georgian Dream. The crisis has been exacerbated by the government's decision to freeze EU accession talks until 2028, sparking widespread public discontent and demonstrations across the country. US-sanctioned oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili attended Kavelashvili's inauguration, highlighting the political tensions.