A former Manchester City footballer is poised to be named president on Saturday by Georgia’s contentious parliament, following 16 days of pro-EU demonstrations that have engulfed towns and cities nationwide.
Mikheil Kavelashvili, aged 53, previously served as a member of parliament for the ruling Georgian Dream party, which has been noted for its growing authoritarian tendencies. He stands as the sole candidate for the position.
On Saturday morning, protesters started to assemble outside parliament, with demonstrations scheduled for later.
The four principal opposition factions have dismissed Kavelashvili and are currently boycotting parliament, asserting that the elections conducted in October were manipulated.
Salome Zourabichvili, Georgia’s outgoing pro-Western president, has denounced Kavelashvili’s election as a travesty, asserting that she represents the country’s only remaining legitimate institution.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has leveled accusations against the president, claiming she is attempting to undermine Georgia’s interests. He underscored that her term will conclude on 29 December, after which she must step down.
On Friday, he stated, “Our state institutions are robust, and we have no challenges in managing the situation effectively.”
Nino Tsilosani, a party member, addressed reporters, stating that Zourabichvili has lost her status as president in the public’s perception.
Protests against Georgian Dream erupted swiftly following the October elections, reaching a peak on 28 November when the government declared a suspension of EU accession negotiations until 2028.
Most Georgians support the nation’s trajectory towards European Union membership, a commitment enshrined in the constitution.
Each evening, the primary thoroughfare adjacent to parliament becomes a gathering place for demonstrators adorned in EU flags, calling for fresh elections.
The parliamentary vote scheduled for Saturday is anticipated to extend over several hours, likely inciting a surge in anti-government demonstrations. A direct ballot will be conducted by a 300-member electoral college consisting of MPs and local officials aligned with Georgian Dream from various regions across the country.
In the lead-up to the vote, Tbilisi experienced a series of spontaneous protests on Friday, drawing participation from IT specialists, public sector employees, creative industry professionals, actors, and lawyers.
“We are here to establish a legal state definitively, ensuring adherence to constitutional provisions and the protection of human rights,” stated lawyer Davit Kikaleishvili, 47.
Kavelashvili has established himself as the founder of the People’s Power party, which has gained recognition as a prominent advocate for anti-Western narratives in Georgia.
The opposition parties have been accused of functioning as a “fifth column” with foreign direction, while President Zourabichvili has been labeled the “chief agent” in this context.
Kavelashvili transitioned into the political arena following his disqualification from pursuing the leadership of the Georgian Football Federation, a decision rooted in his insufficient qualifications.
Despite participating alongside Georgian Dream in the October elections, his party has now positioned itself in parliament as a “healthy opposition,” aiming to occupy the space left by what it describes as the “so-called radical opposition funded by foreign forces.”
The political party Georgian Dream, established by billionaire businessman and former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, faces allegations of steering Georgia closer to Russia’s sphere of influence.
The government has faced condemnation from both the EU and the US for what has been described as democratic backsliding, with reports indicating that over 460 individuals have been detained across Georgia in the last two weeks, as noted by Transparency International.
According to the organization, over 300 individuals have reportedly faced ill-treatment or torture, with a significant number of those affected being members of the Georgian media. During the past weekend, a TV reporter and cameraman were captured on video being assaulted by a group of thugs.
The European Union has denounced the “brutal, unlawful force from the police,” with foreign ministers set to deliberate potential measures against the government during their meeting on Monday.
The US State Department has implemented visa restrictions targeting Georgian officials, which encompass government ministers and members of the police force.
Demonstrators are urging the global community to implement sanctions against high-ranking government officials, including Bidzina Ivanishvili, who is regarded as Georgia’s most influential figure.
Pro-government factions have launched a systematic campaign of intimidation against civil society activists, subjecting them to physical assaults outside their residences and executing arbitrary detentions.
“Systematic torture and inhuman, degrading treatment of citizens are prevalent,” stated former public rights defender Nino Lomjaria.
On Friday, theatre workers participating in the protests voiced their concerns with chants declaring, “The police are everywhere, justice is nowhere.”
During a protest march along an avenue, two men were seen climbing a construction crane. The pair waved a Georgian flag as enthusiastic crowds cheered from below.
