A former soccer star and conservative critic of the West, Mikheil Kavelashvili, was sworn in on Sunday as the new president of Georgia, a strategically important republic in the Caucasus. He replaces a head of state who aimed to continue steering the country closer to Europe.
Kavelashvili, 53, took the oath of office in a parliamentary hall that featured many empty seats, as representatives from four opposition parties boycotted the event following an October election they deemed rigged.
The parliamentary elections and Kavelashvili's inauguration mark a significant shift for Georgia, traditionally viewed as a pro-Western leader among post-Soviet states. The country, home to 3.6 million people, is increasingly perceived as aligning more closely with Russia and China.
During his inauguration, Kavelashvili emphasized the need for Georgians to approach current challenges with caution and to make decisions based on careful analysis rather than emotions.
The political crisis in Georgia intensified on Friday when the United States announced sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili, a prominent oligarch and founder of the Georgian Dream party, who is often regarded as the nation's shadow leader.
Kavelashvili's inauguration occurred amid ongoing political turmoil stemming from the parliamentary election, which opposition figures and some European officials have labeled as fraudulent. The situation worsened in late November when the prime minister declared a suspension of talks to join the European Union until 2028, a goal widely supported by the Georgian populace.
This announcement sparked daily protests in the capital, Tbilisi, and throughout the country, with some demonstrations escalating into clashes between protesters and police.
In a separate ceremony on Sunday, outgoing president Salome Zourabichvili, who had emerged as a leader of the pro-Western movement, stated that she would leave office voluntarily. She criticized Kavelashvili's inauguration as a "parody" and labeled the governing party as "scared, illegitimate, sold out, sanctioned and angry."
Zourabichvili declared, "I’m taking away the legitimacy, I’m taking away the flag, I’m taking away what is your trust," addressing a gathering of supporters outside the presidential palace.
Following her speech, Zourabichvili joined her supporters in a march to the Parliament building, briefly blocking a major thoroughfare. Reports indicate that six protesters were detained by police during the attempt to clear the avenue.
Although the president of Georgia holds a ceremonial role with representative duties, the position often carries significant symbolic weight in a country where traditional ceremonies are highly valued. Zourabichvili, initially endorsed by the Georgian Dream party in 2018, gradually opposed it and became a prominent opposition figure over the past year.
In 2018, the Georgian government altered the presidential election process from a popular vote to an electoral college system, comprising members of Parliament and local assemblies. Kavelashvili is the first president elected under this new procedure.
Before entering politics in 2016, Kavelashvili was a professional soccer striker for various clubs, including Manchester City in the English Premier League. He was elected to Parliament as a member of the Georgian Dream party but later founded a more anti-Western movement known as People’s Power, which has frequently criticized the United States.