Mikheil Kavelashvili was inaugurated as Georgia’s sixth president on Sunday in Tbilisi, attended by lawmakers and officials.
In his speech, Kavelashvili praised Georgia’s culture and resilience, while his presidency begins during heightened political tensions.
Outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili addressed pro-EU demonstrators, pledging continued loyalty despite stepping down from office.
She left the palace symbolically, claiming to carry “legitimacy, the flag, and the people’s trust.”
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze demanded her full departure, hinting at possible legal actions against her defiance.
Kavelashvili’s election, decided by a 300-seat electoral college, follows a contentious October parliamentary election.
Ruling party Georgian Dream secured 89 seats amid opposition claims of fraud and Russian interference.
The government’s suspension of EU talks until 2028 has sparked widespread protests, adding to the political unrest.
