Georgia's new president Mikheil Kavelashvili sworn in amid mass protest

Thousands of Georgians protested outside the parliament on Sunday against the inauguration of president Mikheil Kavelashvili of the Georgian Dream party, as the country's months-long political crisis reached an unpredictable moment.

Former footballer Mikheil Kavelashvili took the oath of office in a closed-doors ceremony in parliament during a crucial political phase, following the government's decision to pause its EU membership application.

An AFP reporter saw a crowd of protesters move towards parliament after Kavelashvili, which the opposition denounces as "illegitimate", was sworn in.

Despite Georgian Dream's October electoral victory, accusations of electoral malpractice have triggered numerous street demonstrations.

Speaking to supporters outside, Zourabichvili announced her departure from the presidential residence whilst questioning her successor's legitimacy.

"This building was a symbol only as long as a legitimate president was sitting here," she said.

The country's four primary opposition parties have dismissed Kavelashvili and refused to participate in parliament.
As the sole candidate, Kavelashvili, previously a Georgian Dream party MP, secured the position. Zourabichvili has criticised his selection as improper, BBC reported.

The Georgian Dream party has shown increasing authoritarian tendencies, implementing legislation similar to Russia's, affecting media outlets, foreign-funded NGOs, and LGBT groups.

The party avoided supporting Western sanctions against Russia following Ukraine's invasion and criticised the West as the "global war party", contradicting its stated EU and NATO aspirations.

Most Georgians support EU integration, which is enshrined in their constitution.

However, in November, the governing party announced a delay in EU membership discussions until 2028.
This decision led to sustained protests, with authorities using force against demonstrators who responded with fireworks and stones.

On Saturday, demonstrators carrying Georgian and EU flags created an extensive human chain before the inauguration.

One protester told the Associated Press: "I am out in the street together with my whole family trying somehow to tear out this small country out of the claws of the Russian empire."

The United States recently sanctioned Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgian Dream's billionaire founder and former prime minister.

Georgia operates as a parliamentary democracy where the president serves as head of state and the prime minister leads parliament.

Initially supported by Georgian Dream in 2018, Zourabichvili later opposed their disputed October victory, describing it as a "Russian special operation" whilst supporting pro-EU demonstrations.