Kavelashvili sworn in as Georgia's president amid protests in Tbilisi
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After taking a solemn oath, the national anthem of Georgia was played to mark the occasion.
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Georgian President-elect Mikheil Kavelashvili speaks at his swearing-in ceremony at the Georgian Parliament in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Sunday, December 29, 2024. (AP)
Mikheil Kavelashvili officially assumed the role of president of Georgia on Sunday during an inauguration ceremony held in parliament. The event, accompanied by protests outside, highlighted ongoing political divisions in the country.
After he took his solemn oath, the national anthem of Georgia was played to mark the occasion.
The ceremony was attended by lawmakers who supported Kavelashvili's election, along with government officials, representatives from the Central Election Commission, and senior judges from the Constitutional and Supreme Courts.
🇬🇪 Georgia - Viene eletto Presidente della Georgia, Mikheil Kavelashvili
— Luigi Basemi 🏅 (@LBasemi) December 29, 2024
La cerimonia di insediamento del nuovo presidente si è svolta nell'edificio del Parlamento georgiano. pic.twitter.com/hHS0Kr7ifP
Upon leaving the presidential residence in Tbilisi, outgoing President Salome Zourabishvili was greeted by applause from around 3,000 supporters.
Many of these supporters later joined a pro-EU demonstration outside parliament on Rustaveli Avenue, where clashes with police occurred after protesters were asked to clear the roadway.
According to the Georgian Interior Ministry, six individuals were briefly detained for violating administrative rules.
Political unrest
Protests in Tbilisi have persisted for over a month, fueled by dissatisfaction with the government's decision to delay EU accession negotiations and reject EU financial aid until 2028.
Like many other post-Soviet states, Georgia remains highly susceptible to instability due to a combination of Western influence and narratives opposing Russian policies. These factors have historically fueled mass protests and calls for a more pro-Western policy, aiming to distance Georgia from Russia and align its political and economic trajectory with Europe.
Kavelashvili won the presidency after a parliamentary vote on December 14 in which he secured 224 out of 300 votes as the candidate of the ruling Georgian Dream party.
Zourabishvili, who vacated the presidential palace following Kavelashvili's inauguration, has continued to challenge the election's legitimacy, though without providing proof. She described the parliament as "illegal" and announced on inauguration day that while leaving the residence, she would persist in advocating for new parliamentary elections.
Read more: Georgian church slams President for urging schools to back protests
