Georgia's Parliament Elects Pro-Russian Hardliner Mikheil Kavelashvili as New President Amid Ongoing Protests
In a move that has sparked widespread concern and protests, Georgia's parliament has elected Mikheil Kavelashvili, a hardline pro-Russian politician, as the country's new president. The election took place on Saturday, December 14, 2024, amidst ongoing protests against the government's decision to freeze European Union accession talks ¹.
Kavelashvili, a former professional soccer player, has been a vocal critic of the West and has repeatedly alleged that Western intelligence agencies are seeking to drive Georgia into war with Russia. His election has been widely seen as a shift away from Georgia's traditional pro-Western stance and towards a more pro-Russian orientation ¹.
The election has sparked widespread outrage, with hundreds of protesters gathering outside parliament to express their opposition to Kavelashvili's candidacy. The protesters, who have been demonstrating for weeks, waved red cards and chanted slogans against the government and Kavelashvili ¹.
The opposition has boycotted parliament since the October election, which they claim was fraudulent. Outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili, a pro-EU critic of the ruling party, has positioned herself as a leader of the protest movement and has said she will remain president after her term ends ¹.
Kavelashvili's election has also sparked concern among Western countries, which have raised the alarm over Georgia's apparent foreign policy pivot and authoritarian drift. The EU has threatened sanctions over a crackdown on protests that has seen hundreds arrested ¹.
Georgia's relations with the West have soured in recent months, with the government forcing through laws on foreign agents and LGBT rights that critics say are Russian-inspired and draconian. The country's interior ministry has said that more than 150 officers have been injured during the protests ¹.
As Kavelashvili prepares to take office on December 29, the country remains deeply divided, with many fearing that his presidency will mark a significant shift away from democracy and towards authoritarianism.
- _Outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili:_ "The election of Mikheil Kavelashvili as president represents a mockery of democracy" ¹.
- _Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze:_ "I congratulate Mikheil Kavelashvili on his election as president" ¹.
- _Protesters:_ "We will continue to protest against the government and Kavelashvili's presidency" ¹.
- Kavelashvili is set to take office on December 29.
- The opposition has vowed to continue protesting against the government and Kavelashvili's presidency.
- Western countries are likely to continue to raise concerns over Georgia's foreign policy pivot and authoritarian drift.
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