Mikheil Kavelashvili was inaugurated as the new president of Georgia on Sunday, marking a significant moment in the nation’s political landscape amid a backdrop of widespread protests and intense political tension. The inauguration follows a controversial parliamentary election in October, which outgoing president Salome Zourabichvili claims was marred by fraud, casting doubt on Kavelashvili's legitimacy as leader.

The ceremony took place in the capital Tbilisi, where Kavelashvili, a former professional soccer player and member of the ruling Georgian Dream party, received the presidential oath during a closed ceremony. The Georgian Dream party, which is accused of increasingly authoritarian governance, points to its recent electoral victory of nearly 54% as evidence of Kavelashvili's rightful presidency (Reuters).

Protests erupted shortly after the ruling party decided to suspend Georgia's European Union application talks, a decision that many citizens view as a betrayal of the country’s pro-EU aspirations. In a speech outside the presidential palace, Zourabichvili, a vocal critic of the current government, declared, “I am taking legitimacy with me, I am taking the flag with me, I am taking your trust with me” (Al Jazeera). She has asserted that she remains the legitimate president of Georgia, which she articulated to hundreds of supporters gathered in defiance of the inauguration.

In a bid for unity, Kavelashvili stated, “The Georgian people have always understood that peace is the main prerequisite for survival and development,” despite being seen as aligned with pro-Russian sentiments and the interests of billionaire leader Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgia’s former prime minister (AP News). Observers note that Zourabichvili’s tenure, from which she has since distanced herself, was the only governmental institution not under Ivanishvili’s control.

Following the inauguration, protests intensified as demonstrators waved red cards, a symbolic nod to Kavelashvili's soccer career, illustrating their rejection of his leadership. “Right now, there is no new president for us... we have only one legitimate president, and this is Salome Zourabichvili,” articulated protester Mariam Japaridze (Reuters).

Widespread unrest reflects deep-seated frustrations over the government’s shift away from EU integration, which has been a longstanding aspiration embedded in Georgia’s constitution. As calls for a new election grow louder, opposition parties have continued to rally against what they deem an illegitimate political process, with over 400 individuals reportedly detained in associated actions (VOA News).

For more details, see the full reports from CNN, South China Morning Post, BBC, AP News, VOA News, Al Jazeera, and Reuters.