Mikheil Kavelashvili who was sworn in as the new president of Georgia as the predecessor of the EU refused to recognize his legitimacy.
Mikheil Kavelashvili was sworn in as Georgia’s president at a ceremony in Parliament in the capital Tbilisi, amid weeks of protests and his pro-Western predecessor’s refusal to step down.
Outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili said on Sunday in a speech to hundreds of supporters outside the presidential palace that she is leaving but is still an official official.
“This parody, which is currently being played in the parliament, is a real game that the country did not deserve,” said Zourabichvili.
He also added that Kavelashvili was not elected properly, as the legislators who elected him were elected in the October parliamentary elections which he said were fraudulent.
The pro-European Union leader and protesters are demanding a new vote to replace the election in question.
The Georgia Dream party and the country’s election commission say the October election was free.
Kavelashvili, a 53-year-old former national soccer player, swore an oath on the Bible and the Georgian constitution, vowing to serve the country’s interests amid political crises.
According to local media reports, there were no significant protests outside the Parliament buildings when Kavelashvili was sworn in.
Officially elected president
The ruling party, which controls parliament, also says Kavelashvili is the legitimately elected president.
The Georgian Laphpha party threatened Zourabichvili with prison if he refused to leave the presidential residence in central Tbilisi.
The Georgian Dream-led government has halted EU application negotiations in a way that has sparked massive protests.
Opponents of the Georgian Dream accuse it of steering Tbilisi towards Moscow rather than towards the Caucasus country’s long-term goal of joining the EU.
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