Mikheil Kavelashvili Inaugurated as Georgian President

Mikheil Kavelashvili was inaugurated as president of Georgia amidst widespread protests and allegations of electoral fraud following a disputed parliamentary election. His predecessor, Salome Zourabichvili, a pro-EU figure, declared Kavelashvili lacked legitimacy, stating she was taking her legitimacy with her as she left the presidential palace. Kavelashvili, the only candidate due to an opposition boycott, has been criticized for his ties to Russia and authoritarian tendencies of the ruling Georgian Dream party. His presidency represents a significant shift away from Georgia's pro-Western stance, raising concerns over the country's future EU aspirations. Protests erupted against the government’s decision to delay EU accession talks, with demonstrators denouncing Kavelashvili's inauguration as a 'circus.' The situation has been further complicated by U.S. sanctions against Georgian Dream's leader, Bidzina Ivanishvili, amid accusations of steering the country towards a pro-Russian agenda.