New Georgian president sworn in; predecessor says he is not legitimate leader

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Mikheil Kavelashvili, a hardline critic of the West, was sworn in as president of Georgia on Sunday amid a political disaster after the federal government froze European Union utility talks in a transfer that sparked main protests.

Outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili, a pro-EU opponent of the ruling get together, stated in a defiant speech to supporters outdoors the presidential palace that she was leaving the residence, however that Kavelashvili had no legitimacy as president, which is a largely ceremonial place.

“I'll come out of right here and be with you,” Zourabichvili stated.

Mikheil Kavelashvili was sworn in as president of Georgia on Sunday. POOL/AFP through Getty Pictures

“I'm taking legitimacy with me, I'm taking the flag with me, I'm taking your belief with me,” she added, earlier than strolling out of the palace to mingle together with her supporters.

Zourabichvili stated that Kavelashvili was not duly picked, because the lawmakers who selected him had been elected in an October parliamentary election that she stated was marked by fraud. Georgia’s opposition events help her.

The Georgian Dream ruling get together and the nation’s election fee stated that the October election was free and honest. The ruling get together stated Kavelashvili is the duly elected president.

The presidential standoff is seen as a watershed second in Georgia, a mountainous nation of three.7 million that had till not too long ago been thought to be among the many most democratic and pro-Western of the previous Soviet states.

Kavelashvili is a loyalist of Bidzina Ivanishvili, a reclusive billionaire ex-prime minister who's broadly seen as Georgia’s de facto chief.

Georgian Dream get together founder Bidzina Ivanishvili embraced Kavelashvili at his swearing-in ceremony on Sunday. AP

On Friday, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Ivanishvili, saying he was spearheading Georgia’s present anti-Western and pro-Russian flip.

Kavelashvili, a former skilled soccer participant who briefly performed as a striker for Manchester Metropolis, has repeatedly accused Western intelligence companies of plotting to drive Georgia into battle with neighboring Russia.

“The Georgian individuals have all the time understood that peace is the primary prerequisite for survival and growth,” he stated after being sworn in on Sunday.

Protesters outdoors parliament held up purple playing cards in a mocking reference to Kavelashvili’s athletic profession.

Georgian Dream received virtually 54% of the official vote in October’s election.

Native and worldwide election screens have stated the vote was marked by violations that might have affected the outcomes. Western international locations have referred to as for an investigation.

Outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili advised Kavelashvili had no legitimacy as president. AFP through Getty Pictures

Zourabichvili is backed by the nation’s 4 major pro-EU opposition events, which have boycotted parliament because the election.

They are saying she is going to stay the legit president till recent elections are held.

The confrontation comes amid a month of protests sparked by Georgian Dream’s suspension of EU accession talks till 2028, abruptly halting a longstanding nationwide objective of becoming a member of the bloc that's written into the nation’s structure.

The transfer touched off widespread anger amongst Georgians, who polls present are firmly pro-EU, and prompted a police crackdown, with over 400 individuals, together with senior opposition leaders, detained.

Zourabichvili has accused Georgian Dream of intentionally sinking Georgia’s EU hopes and as an alternative shifting in the direction of Russia, from which Georgia gained independence in 1991.

Opposition supporters say that below Zourabichvili, who was elected with Georgian Dream’s help in 2018 earlier than breaking with the get together lately, the presidency was the one establishment within the nation not in the end below the management of ruling get together founder Ivanishvili.