Georgia’s pro-Western president, Salome Zourabichvili, has said she will leave the palace but remain the country’s rightful owner after refusing to hand over the keys to her successor in the event of a controversial general election.
Zourabichvili addressed thousands of protesters in the capital city of Tbilisi to demonstrate against the inauguration of Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former political activist who has distanced himself from the ruling pro-Moscow and increasingly authoritarian Georgian Party (GD). the president was sworn in at a parliamentary ceremony.
Kavelashvili’s inauguration – which was held for the first time in Georgia’s history behind closed doors in the plenary chamber inside the parliament – is likely to flare up further during the months-long political crisis, which has been fueled by large pro-European Union demonstrations.
At least 2,000 pro-EU protesters had gathered outside parliament before the president’s controversial inauguration.
Addressing the protesters before the inauguration, Zourabichvili, who has the gathered figure of fact is opposed to them by GDHe declared: “I remain the legitimate president alone.” I am leaving the presidential palace and I will stand with you, carrying with me the law, the flag and the faith.
After taking the presidential oath in parliament, Kavelashvili said: “Our history clearly shows that, after countless struggles to defend the country and traditions, peace has always been among the main goals and values of the Georgian people.”
The GD party presented itself as the only guarantor of stability in the country, accusing West Tbilisi of dragging it into the conflict in Ukraine.
Kavelashvili, known for his straight opinions and derogatory comments against LGBTQ+ people, praised “our traditions, values, national identity, sanctity of family and faith”.
The truce between Zourabichvili and GD plunged the country into political crisis after a contested election in October in which GD won, but many Georgians believe it was orchestrated with Russian help.
Zourabichvili and Kavelashvili’s protesters declared “illegitimate” the demands of the October general elections.
When Zourabichvili occupied the Orbelian presidential palace in the 19th century, he was called upon by nearby protesters to make a symbolic gesture by wearing the same white-and-black colors of the Georgian flag he had worn during his inauguration six years earlier.
She reiterated that the “illegitimate” election was “a formula to resolve such a crisis”.
After this address outside the presidential palace, thousands of protesters moved to the parliament with some red cards in a nod to Kavelashvili’s famous football career. They dispersed shortly after, vowing to stage another protest later in the evening.
Giorgi Mamatelashvili, a 34-year-old protester, told Agence France-Presse that he had initially expected Zourabichvili to stay in the palace, but it had led to an overly “dramatic standoff”.
But “our president still remains,” he said.
Zourabichvili, whose role as president is ceremonial but has made him a symbolic leader of the opposition, has emerged as a popular politician and the last hope of the rebels who accuse the Georgian Dream of ruling Tbilisi from the west and towards Moscow.
“We trust her, we follow her, and now she is our leader,” 42-year-old Shorena Aleksaia, who attended the demonstration, told AFP. “Of course, Georgia only wants the best, and we have faith in her.”
Georgia has been in political turmoil since October’s parliamentary elections were debated and the government’s plan to join the European Union is cautious.
Thousands of Georgians have taken to the streets every day for a month, accusing the repressive government and increasingly EU ambitions of derailing Tbilisi.
Many protesters said they intended to keep the demonstration as tension escalated in a small nation nestled in the Caucasus mountains that has a turbulent history amid popular aspirations and conflict. times of hard repression.
“We will keep fighting. We will protest,” said David, a 22-year-old programmer who stood outside the presidential palace earlier Sunday. “It’s too late to back down.”
Opposition parties have refused to enter parliament since the October elections, and Zourabichvili has declared the newly elected legislature, government and president “illegitimate”.
Weighing in on the crisis, US Republican congressman Joe Wilson said Zourabichvili was invited to Donald Trump’s inauguration next month “as the only legitimate leader in Georgia.”
The bill announced “that the US will stop recognizing the illegal dictatorial regime in Georgia and will recognize Zourabichvili as the only legitimate leader in Georgia.”
But Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, of the GD party, ruled by calling new elections. Zourabichvili had said he would make legal arrangements if he wanted to remain in office.
In the first 10 days after the protests following the contested vote, police used teargas and water cannons to disperse demonstrators, some of whom threw torches and stones.
More than 400 people were arrested during the protests, many saying they were beaten.
The reported police brutality drew international condemnation, with Washington and several European countries imposing visa bans on GD officers.
Agence France-Presse contributed to this report