Kavelashvili Nominated by Georgian Dream for Presidency

Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former Manchester City footballer and far-right politician, has been nominated by Georgia's ruling party, Georgian Dream, as their presidential candidate. Kavelashvili is expected to win the largely ceremonial post due to Georgian Dream's control over the electoral college, despite his anti-Western rhetoric and accusations of being pro-Russian. His nomination follows contested parliamentary elections that opposition and independent observers claim were rigged, leading to widespread protests demanding new elections. Current President Salome Zourabichvili, whose term ends soon, has declared the new legislature unconstitutional and is at odds with the ruling party over Georgia's EU accession efforts. The choice of Kavelashvili is likely to be viewed by the EU and the US as a move away from Western alignment and towards closer ties with Russia.