Georgian President Kavelashvili sworn in amid election dispute

Outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili has rejected Kavelashvili's legitimacy citing alleged elections irregularities

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Mikheil Kavelashvili has been sworn in as the new president of Georgia, amidst political turmoil and accusations of election fraud. Kavelashvili, a strong critic of the West, was elected by lawmakers following the October parliamentary elections.

However, outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili, a pro-EU opponent of the ruling party, has rejected his legitimacy, citing alleged irregularities in the election process.

In a defiant speech delivered to her supporters outside the presidential palace, Zourabichvili stated that she would leave the residence but claimed she retained the legitimacy of her office. "I will come out of here and be with you," she said. "I am taking legitimacy with me, I am taking the flag with me, I am taking your trust with me." Zourabichvili, who remains popular among opposition parties, maintains that Kavelashvili's election was flawed due to fraud in the parliamentary vote.

The opposition has voiced their support for Zourabichvili and contends that she is the legitimate president until new elections are held.

Kavelashvili's election is backed by the Georgian Dream ruling party, which won nearly 54 percent of the vote in October's parliamentary elections. The ruling party, along with the country's election commission, has maintained that the election was free and fair.

The international community has raised concerns about the electoral process, with local and international monitors citing violations that may have impacted the results. Western countries have called for an investigation into the allegations.

Kavelashvili, a former professional soccer player who briefly played for Manchester City, has expressed anti-Western views, accusing Western intelligence agencies of attempting to provoke conflict between Georgia and Russia. "The Georgian people have always understood that peace is the main prerequisite for survival and development," he stated after being sworn in.

The standoff between Kavelashvili and Zourabichvili is seen as a significant moment in Georgia’s political landscape. The country, which had previously been viewed as one of the most democratic and pro-Western states in the former Soviet Union, is now facing growing divisions over its future direction.

This situation comes at a time when Georgia's ruling party is facing increasing criticism for its perceived shift away from the West and towards closer ties with Russia. In response to these developments, the United States imposed sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the Georgian Dream party, accusing him of driving Georgia's anti-Western stance.

Protests have erupted across Georgia, with demonstrators holding up red cards in a symbolic gesture against Kavelashvili, referencing his past as a soccer player. As the political crisis deepens, the outcome of this dispute remains uncertain.