Mikheil Kavelashvili Sworn In as Georgia's President

Mikheil Kavelashvili has been inaugurated as Georgia's president amid significant controversy and claims of illegitimacy. Outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili, who has declared herself the legitimate head of state, accused Kavelashvili's election of being a 'mockery of democracy' due to alleged fraud in the October parliamentary elections. Protests erupted in Tbilisi, with thousands rallying against Kavelashvili's presidency and demanding new elections, as the ruling Georgian Dream party's ties with Russia have raised concerns among pro-EU supporters. The international community has echoed these concerns, calling for investigations into the electoral process. Kavelashvili, a former footballer, is seen as a hardline critic of the West and has assumed office while the government has halted EU accession talks until at least 2028. The political unrest reflects deep divisions within Georgian society regarding its future direction and governance.