Mikheil Kavelashvili has been inaugurated as the president of Georgia, a move that has ignited protests in the capital, Tbilisi. Critics argue that Kavelashvili’s ascension marks a consolidation of power by the pro-Russian oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili and his Georgian Dream party, which has dominated the political landscape since 2012. Kavelashvili was the sole candidate selected by a college primarily composed of Georgian Dream supporters.
In response to his inauguration, demonstrators took to the streets, brandishing red cards as symbols of their discontent toward Kavelashvili, a former footballer who has adopted ultra-nationalist positions. Protests have been ongoing for the past month amid increasing political tensions, further fueled by sanctions from the U.S. State Department against Ivanishvili for actions deemed detrimental to Georgia’s democracy.
Outgoing president Salome Zurabichvili, who positions herself as the legitimate authority, criticized Kavelashvili’s leadership as a “parody” and called for new elections. She emphasized her commitment to the Georgian people and condemned the legitimacy of the body that elected Kavelashvili. The European Parliament has also condemned the recent elections as “neither free nor fair.”
Georgia has seen significant political unrest this past year, especially following its designation as an EU candidate country, which many citizens celebrated. However, authoritarian practices are on the rise, most notably through the controversial Foreign Agents Act, which has drawn comparisons to similar Russian legislation aimed at suppressing dissent.
The parliamentary elections in October resulted in Georgian Dream winning 54% of the vote amidst allegations of serious electoral violations, prompting opposition parties to reject the results and demand fresh elections. Tensions escalated further as the government announced a suspension of EU accession negotiations, delaying the process until 2028.
Public dissent has intensified, leading to a heavy police response to protests, with many injuries reported. Opposition figures have noted the regime’s increasing oppression, suggesting it could lead to greater public resistance. Experts believe the dissatisfaction with the ruling party is growing, and there is a shared sentiment among opposition leaders that the rise of authoritarianism in Georgia was foreseeable. The situation remains volatile, with citizens wary of the future under what many perceive as a drifting authoritarian regime.