Following anti-government protests across the country, the Georgian government has come to the conclusion that the status quo suits it, causing a major setback to Georgia’s privileged economic and diplomatic access to the European Union.
Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former football player, was elected president of Georgia on Saturday as the ruling party strengthened its hold.
The opposition describes this as a setback to Georgia’s EU ambitions and a win for Russia, the former imperial master.
The Georgian Dream party controlled a 300-seat electoral college that took the place of direct presidential elections in 2017, therefore the 53-year-old Kavelashvili won the vote with ease.
The opposition claims that the October 26 election was rigged with Moscow’s assistance, but Georgian Dream was able to hold onto power in the South Caucasus country’s parliament. The main pro-Western parties and Georgia’s departing president have now called for a repeat of the election and boycotted legislative sessions.
Georgian Dream aims to “reset” relations with Russia while simultaneously pledging to keep working towards EU membership.
A brief conflict between Russia and Georgia in 2008 resulted in the recognition of two breakaway areas as autonomous by Moscow and an expansion of Russian military forces in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Georgian Dream, founded by mysterious millionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, who amassed his wealth in Russia, has come under fire for allegedly growing more authoritarian and pro-Moscow. The ruling party has refuted these claims. To suppress free speech and LGBTQ+ rights, the party has passed legislation modelled after those employed by the Kremlin.
