New Georgian president sworn in as predecessor refuses to stand aside

Mikheil Kavelashvili sworn in as Georgia’s new president as pro-EU predecessor refuses to recognise his legitimacy.

Mikheil Kavelashvili has been sworn in as Georgian president in a ceremony in Parliament in the capital Tbilisi, amid weeks of protests and the refusal of his pro-Western predecessor to stand aside.

Outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili said on Sunday in a defiant speech to hundreds of supporters outside the presidential palace that she was leaving the residence but remained the legitimate officeholder.

“This parody, which is currently being played out in parliament, is a genuine parody that the country has not deserved,” Zourabichvili said.

She added that Kavelashvili was not duly picked, as the legislators who chose him were elected in an October parliamentary election that she says was marked by fraud.

The pro-European Union leader and protesters are demanding a new vote to replace the election in question.