Tbilisi, Georgia – Mikhail Kavelashvili, a 53-year-old former footballer who played for Manchester City, has been elected president of Georgia. His election, backed by the ruling Georgian Dream party, has ignited widespread protests and raised concerns about the country’s future relationship with the European Union and Russia.
Kavelashvili’s close ties to the Georgian Dream party are well-documented. This party recently made the controversial decision to halt European Union accession talks for at least four years, a move that triggered significant public unrest. The decision to elect a president through an electoral college, rather than a direct popular vote, as mandated by recent constitutional changes implemented by Georgian Dream, further fueled the opposition’s anger.
despite frigid temperatures, hundreds of pro-Western demonstrators took to the streets outside the parliament building to voice their opposition to Kavelashvili’s presidency, according to reports from AFP.
A Complex Geopolitical Landscape
The Georgian Dream party has publicly committed to pursuing EU membership while simultaneously aiming to “reboot” relations with Russia. This dual approach is viewed with skepticism by many, given the history between the two nations. The 2008 war between Russia and Georgia resulted in Moscow’s recognition of two breakaway regions,South Ossetia and Abkhazia,as self-reliant states,significantly increasing Russia’s military presence in the region.
Critics accuse the Georgian Dream party, founded by the influential Russian-based billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, of increasingly authoritarian tendencies and pro-Moscow leanings. Thes accusations, which the party denies, are amplified by the recent passage of laws that bear a striking resemblance to those used by the Kremlin to curtail free speech and LGBTQ+ rights.
The election of Kavelashvili marks a significant turning point in Georgian politics, with potential implications for the country’s future trajectory and its relationship with both the West and Russia. The ongoing protests highlight the deep divisions within Georgian society and the uncertainty surrounding the nation’s path forward.
