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Thousands protest in Georgia ahead of political showdown Georgia's outgoing president refuses to quit as successor sworn in
(about 7 hours later)
Thousands of Georgian protesters have formed a human chain in the capital, Tbilisi, ahead of a political showdown as the new president prepares to be sworn in. Mikheil Kavelashvili was sworn in as Georgia's new president on Sunday
The inauguration of a new president - former Manchester City footballer Mikheil Kavelashvili, who is seen as an ally of the ruling Georgian Dream party - is due on Sunday. Thousands of Georgians are protesting in the capital Tbilisi as a new president allied with the ruling Georgian Dream party was inaugurated.
But the current head of state, Salome Zourabichvili, is refusing to step down, describing his election as illegitimate. Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former pro-footballer, has been sworn in during a critical political period for the country after the government suspended its application to join the European Union.
Georgian Dream, which has been in power for 12 years, won parliamentary elections in October, but the victory was mired by allegations of fraud and there have since been protests. Georgian Dream won parliamentary elections in October, but the victory was mired in allegations of fraud which have since sparked several street protests.
The four main opposition groups have rejected Kavelashvili and boycotted parliament. Outgoing president Salome Zourabichvili refused to step down on Sunday, saying she was the "only legitimate president".
It is as yet unclear how the stand-off will be resolved. Addressing crowds gathered outside, Zourabichvili said she would leave the presidential palace but branded her successor illegitimate.
Protesters, waving Georgian and EU flags, formed a human chain that spanned kilometres on Saturday. "This building was a symbol only as long as a legitimate president was sitting here," she said.
"I am out in the street together with my whole family trying somehow to tear out this small country out of the claws of the Russian empire," one protester told the Associated Press. A few minutes' walk away, Kavelashvili was sworn in at a closed-doors ceremony in parliament, where he was accompanied by his family. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze also attended the inauguration.
Speaking after taking the oath, Kavelashvili went on to praise Georgian "traditions, values, national identity, the sanctity of the family, and faith".
"Our history clearly shows that, after countless struggles to defend our homeland and traditions, peace has always been one of the main goals and values for the Georgian people," he said.
Zourabichvili vowed to fight on in an address to protesters outside the palace on Sunday morning
Georgia's four main opposition groups have rejected Kavelashvili and boycotted parliament.
Kavelashvili is a former MP with the Georgian Dream party and was the only candidate for the job. Zourabichvili has previously denounced his election as a travesty.
Zourabichvili: Georgia's pro-West president refusing to step down
Georgian Dream has become increasingly authoritarian in recent years, passing Russian-style laws targeting media and non-government groups who receive foreign funding, and the LGBT community.Georgian Dream has become increasingly authoritarian in recent years, passing Russian-style laws targeting media and non-government groups who receive foreign funding, and the LGBT community.
It refused to join Western sanctions on Russia after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and called the West the "global war party", making a mockery of its stated aim of joining the EU and Nato.It refused to join Western sanctions on Russia after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and called the West the "global war party", making a mockery of its stated aim of joining the EU and Nato.
An overwhelming majority of Georgians back the country's path to the EU and it is part of the constitution.An overwhelming majority of Georgians back the country's path to the EU and it is part of the constitution.
But in November, the country's ruling party said the government would not seek EU accession talks until 2028.But in November, the country's ruling party said the government would not seek EU accession talks until 2028.
The announcement sparked days of protests, and riot police used tear gas and water cannon against protesters, who fought back by throwing fireworks and stones.The announcement sparked days of protests, and riot police used tear gas and water cannon against protesters, who fought back by throwing fireworks and stones.
On Saturday, protesters waving Georgian and EU flags gathered again ahead of the inauguration, forming a human chain that spanned kilometres.
"I am out in the street together with my whole family trying somehow to tear out this small country out of the claws of the Russian empire," one protester told the Associated Press.
Protesters hung on Zourabichvili's words on Sunday
The US this week imposed sanctions on Georgia's former prime minister and billionaire founder of Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili.The US this week imposed sanctions on Georgia's former prime minister and billionaire founder of Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili.
Georgia is a parliamentary democracy with the president the head of state, and the prime minister the head of parliament.Georgia is a parliamentary democracy with the president the head of state, and the prime minister the head of parliament.
The current president, Zourabichvili, has denounced Kavelashvili's election - which was under an electoral college system in which he was the only candidate - as a travesty.
When Zourabichvili became president in 2018 she was endorsed by Georgian Dream, but she has since condemned their contested election victory in late October as a "Russian special operation" and backed nightly pro-EU protests outside parliament.When Zourabichvili became president in 2018 she was endorsed by Georgian Dream, but she has since condemned their contested election victory in late October as a "Russian special operation" and backed nightly pro-EU protests outside parliament.
Zourabichvili has vowed not to step down on Sunday. Additional reporting from Nino Shonia in Tbilisi.
The government says if she refuses to leave office she will be committing a crime.