Georgia&rsquo;s pro-Western outgoing president, Salome Zourabichvili, has announced she will vacate the presidential palace but insists she remains the country&rsquo;s legitimate leader after refusing to hand over the keys to her successor.
&ldquo;I remain the only legitimate president. I will leave the presidential palace and stand with you, carrying with me the legitimacy, the flag and your trust,&rdquo; Zourabichvili said. 
She criticised the ongoing parliamentary proceedings, describing them as a &ldquo;genuine parody&rdquo; that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/georgias-inaugurates-disputed-president-amid-political-crisis">Georgia</a> does not deserve.
Her comments came as thousands of protesters gathered in the capital, Tbilisi, opposing the inauguration of Mikheil Kavelashvili. 
<h2>Closed door swearing-in ceremony for the first time in Georgia's history </h2>
A former footballer and far-right politician supported by the pro-Moscow Georgian Dream (GD) party, Kavelashvili was sworn in as president during a parliamentary ceremony held behind closed doors.
Zourabichvili argued that Kavelashvili&rsquo;s election was not legitimate, claiming that the parliamentary vote that selected him came from a fraudulent election held in October. She, alongside pro-European Union demonstrators, has called for new elections.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-sanctions-ex-georgian-prime-minister-ivanishvili-for-undermining-nations-future-to-benefit-russia-8574254">US sanctions ex-Georgia prime minister Ivanishvili for undermining nation's 'future' to benefit Russia</a>
However, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-georgias-new-president-mikheil-kavelashvili-784005">Georgian Dream</a> party and the country&rsquo;s election commission maintain that the October election was free and fair. The party, which controls the parliament, also asserts that Kavelashvili is the rightful president.
During his inauguration speech, 53-year-old Kavelashvili praised Georgia&rsquo;s &ldquo;traditions, values, national identity, the sanctity of the family, and faith.&rdquo; He added, &ldquo;Our history clearly shows that, after countless struggles to defend our homeland and traditions, peace has always been one of the main goals and values for the Georgian people.&rdquo;
Kavelashvili, a former Georgian Dream MP and the sole candidate for the presidency, has faced widespread rejection. Georgia&rsquo;s four main opposition parties have refused to recognise his presidency and have boycotted parliament.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/unacceptable-and-incompatible-france-warns-over-threats-against-georgias-pro-eu-president-8571713">'Unacceptable&nbsp;and incompatible': France warns over threats against Georgia's pro-EU president</a>
Tensions in the country have grown in recent months. Georgian Dream has faced criticism for refusing to impose Western sanctions on Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The party has also distanced itself from its declared goal of joining the EU and NATO, labelling Western allies the &ldquo;global war party.&rdquo;
While the Georgian constitution mentions the country&rsquo;s EU aspirations, the ruling party announced in November that it would not seek EU accession talks until 2028. This decision led to days of protests, during which riot police used tear gas and water cannons on demonstrators.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: A former footballer and far-right politician supported by the pro-Moscow Georgian Dream (GD) party, Mikheil Kavelashvili, was sworn in as president behind closed doors.

Georgia’s pro-Western outgoing president, Salome Zourabichvili, has announced she will vacate the presidential palace but insists she remains the country’s legitimate leader after refusing to hand over the keys to her successor. “I remain the only legitimate president. I will leave the presidential palace and stand with you, carrying with me the legitimacy, the flag and your trust,” Zourabichvili said. She criticised the ongoing parliamentary proceedings, describing them as a “genuine parody” that Georgia does not deserve. Her comments came as thousands of protesters gathered in the capital, Tbilisi, opposing the inauguration of Mikheil Kavelashvili. Closed door swearing-in ceremony for the first time in Georgia's history A former footballer and far-right politician supported by the pro-Moscow Georgian Dream (GD) party, Kavelashvili was sworn in as president during a parliamentary ceremony held behind closed doors. Zourabichvili argued that Kavelashvili’s election was not legitimate, claiming that the parliamentary vote that selected him came from a fraudulent election held in October. She, alongside pro-European Union demonstrators, has called for new elections. Also read: US sanctions ex-Georgia prime minister Ivanishvili for undermining nation's 'future' to benefit Russia However, the Georgian Dream party and the country’s election commission maintain that the October election was free and fair. The party, which controls the parliament, also asserts that Kavelashvili is the rightful president. During his inauguration speech, 53-year-old Kavelashvili praised Georgia’s “traditions, values, national identity, the sanctity of the family, and faith.” He added, “Our history clearly shows that, after countless struggles to defend our homeland and traditions, peace has always been one of the main goals and values for the Georgian people.” Kavelashvili, a former Georgian Dream MP and the sole candidate for the presidency, has faced widespread rejection. Georgia’s four main opposition parties have refused to recognise his presidency and have boycotted parliament. Also read: 'Unacceptable and incompatible': France warns over threats against Georgia's pro-EU president Tensions in the country have grown in recent months. Georgian Dream has faced criticism for refusing to impose Western sanctions on Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The party has also distanced itself from its declared goal of joining the EU and NATO, labelling Western allies the “global war party.” While the Georgian constitution mentions the country’s EU aspirations, the ruling party announced in November that it would not seek EU accession talks until 2028. This decision led to days of protests, during which riot police used tear gas and water cannons on demonstrators. (With inputs from agencies)

Georgia: Pro-Russia prez sworn in behind closed doors as outgoing leader strikes defiant tone

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the suspension of Russian passenger flights to Georgia, this is after Georgia's Capital witnessed violent protests.

Georgia Unrest: Protests over Russian lawmaker's visit

Russian President Vladimir Putin has temporarily banned passenger flights from Russia to Georgia, the Kremlin said on Friday following an outbreak of unrest in Tbilisi triggered by the visit of a Russian lawmaker.

The Kremlin said it was also recommending travel agencies suspend tours to Georgia from Russia.

Violence flared in the Georgian capital late on Thursday, where police used tear gas and rubber bullets to stop angry crowds storming parliament.

The crowds were angry about the visit of a Russian delegation led by Sergei Gavrilov, a member of Russia's lower house of parliament, who was taking part in an event designed to foster relations between Orthodox Christian lawmakers.

Hundreds of people, both protesters and police officers, were injured, some seriously, as demonstrators pushed against lines of riot police, threw bottles and stones, and grabbed shields, drawing a tough response.

Though ostensibly about how Georgia handles relations with Russia, with whom it fought and lost a brief war in 2008, opposition parties are seeking to seize the moment to press much wider and unrelated demands and called on people to take to the streets again on Friday evening.

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili called Russia "an enemy and occupier" and suggested Moscow had helped trigger the protests, while the Kremlin on Friday blamed radical Georgian politicians for what it called "an anti-Russian provocation".

Russian President Vladimir Putin has temporarily banned passenger flights from Russia to Georgia, the Kremlin said on Friday following an outbreak of unrest in Tbilisi triggered by the visit of a Russian lawmaker.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has temporarily banned passenger flights from Russia to Georgia, the Kremlin said on Friday following an outbreak of unrest in Tbilisi triggered by the visit of a Russian lawmaker. The Kremlin said it was also recommending travel agencies suspend tours to Georgia from Russia. Violence flared in the Georgian capital late on Thursday, where police used tear gas and rubber bullets to stop angry crowds storming parliament. The crowds were angry about the visit of a Russian delegation led by Sergei Gavrilov, a member of Russia's lower house of parliament, who was taking part in an event designed to foster relations between Orthodox Christian lawmakers. Hundreds of people, both protesters and police officers, were injured, some seriously, as demonstrators pushed against lines of riot police, threw bottles and stones, and grabbed shields, drawing a tough response. Though ostensibly about how Georgia handles relations with Russia, with whom it fought and lost a brief war in 2008, opposition parties are seeking to seize the moment to press much wider and unrelated demands and called on people to take to the streets again on Friday evening. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili called Russia "an enemy and occupier" and suggested Moscow had helped trigger the protests, while the Kremlin on Friday blamed radical Georgian politicians for what it called "an anti-Russian provocation".

Vladimir Putin orders suspension of passenger flights from Russia to Georgia

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Georgia: Pro-Russia prez sworn in behind closed doors as outgoing leader strikes defiant tone

Georgia Unrest: Protests over Russian lawmaker's visit

Vladimir Putin orders suspension of passenger flights from Russia to Georgia