Former Manchester City player, Mikheil Kavelashvili, assumed office as Georgia’s president on Sunday after a controversial election period that further highlighted divisions between the nation’s pro-Russian and pro-European Union camps.
At 53, Kavelashvili, a former lawmaker with the ruling Georgian Dream party and an ex-English Premier League star, was sworn in during a ceremony at the Georgian Parliament in Tbilisi.
As the sole candidate following an opposition boycott of the electoral process, Kavelashvili pledged inclusivity, declaring his commitment to serve as “everyone’s president, regardless of whether they like me or not.”
He called on Georgians to rally around “shared values, the principles of mutual respect, and the future we should build together.”
Emphasizing peace as a cornerstone for progress, Kavelashvili stated, “The Georgian people have always understood that peace is the main prerequisite for survival and development.”
His appointment to the largely symbolic role sparked protests and condemnation from opposition groups.
Demonstrators critical of the government’s decision to delay its EU membership bid voiced their dissent with fervent displays, including waving red cards—a nod to Kavelashvili’s football career.
Protester Sofia Shamanidi remarked, “Because today our president is a footballer, we are showing him a red card. The next step will be sending him off the pitch. The Georgian people will definitely do this, because it was a circus that they have held today in the parliament.”
Outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili, a staunch pro-EU figure and critic of the ruling party, delivered a defiant farewell speech to supporters outside the presidential palace.
“I will come out of here and be with you,” she declared. “I am taking legitimacy with me, I am taking the flag with me, I am taking your trust with me.”
The political transition was overshadowed by recent reports of harsh crackdowns on demonstrators.
Some protesters were hospitalized after encounters with police and masked “special forces,” an incident that Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has not addressed despite inquiries.
According to the ministry, over 150 officers sustained injuries during the protests.
Criticism of Kavelashvili’s qualifications for the presidency persists, with opponents pointing to his sports background and lack of higher education.
In 2016, he was barred from leading Georgia’s football federation due to his educational status.
Nevertheless, Georgian Dream secured 54% of the vote, and with opposition groups boycotting parliament, Kavelashvili’s victory was assured.
The controversial election process, described as riddled with violations by local and international monitors, drew calls for investigation from Western nations.
Zourabichvili, labeling the election “illegitimate,” referred to it as “a Russian special operation – a new form of hybrid warfare waged against our people and our country.”
Russia’s influence remains a sensitive issue for many Georgians, particularly given its 2008 invasion and continued occupation of 20% of Georgia’s internationally recognized territory.
Despite this, the ruling Georgian Dream party has often faced accusations of aligning with pro-Russian sentiments.
