By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
TBILISI/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Georgia’s parliament has elected Mikheil Kavelashvili, a pro-Russian former professional football player, as the country’s new president, raising concerns in the West. Kavelashvili has strong anti-Western views.
In public remarks this year, he repeatedly alleged that Western intelligence agencies are seeking to drive Georgia into war with Russia, which still occupies about 20 percent of the country.
Georgian presidents are appointed by a college of electors comprised of legislators and local government representatives. Of the 225 electors present, 224 voted for Kavelashvili, the only candidate nominated.
His election was due to add to social and political tensions. He was to replace a pro-Western incumbent despite significant protests against the government over a halt to the country’s European Union accession talks.
The ruling Georgian Dream party’s move last month to freeze the EU membership process until 2028 abruptly halted a long-standing national goal written into the country’s constitution.
BROAD ANGER
It provoked widespread anger in Georgia, where opinion polls show that seeking EU membership is overwhelmingly popular.
There has been a violent crackdown by riot police on pro-EU protestors. Among those injured was Davit Okruashvili, a 33-year-old information security analyst.
He still bears the marks of his recent beating, with both eyes blackened, reporters witnessed. “It was November 29, around 11 p.m. behind the parliament, when the riot police came down on us mercilessly,” he recalled.
More violence and political turmoil are expected as the outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili, a pro-EU critic of the ruling Georgian Dream party, has positioned herself as a protest movement leader.
She warned that she would remain president after her term ends. Zourabichvili considers parliament illegitimate because of alleged fraud in the October election.
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
Tensions remained high Friday in Pakistan’s Punjab Province after local police detained a mentally challenged Christian on charges of blasphemy against Islam, Christians told Worthy News.
Sweden says it has detained five people over the killing of an Iraqi refugee who sparked outrage among Muslims by burning the Koran in protest in Sweden in 2023.
President Donald Trump confirmed that he will impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico starting Saturday, citing large trade deficits and the flow of fentanyl as key reasons. He also mentioned that he is still considering whether to include oil from these countries in the tariffs.
President Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday to combat antisemitism, instructing the Department of Justice to take “immediate action” to deport foreign national college students and resident aliens involved in pro-Hamas protests following the terrorist group’s massacre of 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of over 250 hostages.
A new study shows there has been a surge in attacks on Christians in Nicaragua over the last two years, with Nicaraguan dictator President Daniel Ortega now specifically targeting evangelical bodies as well as Catholic communities, Christian Daily International (CDI) reports.
Israel released 110 Palestinian prisoners Thursday after Hamas fighters freed seven hostages – two Israelis and five Thais.
Missionaries and local Christians in Mozambique are being targeted by Islamic terror groups amid ongoing political protests and upheaval over October’s highly disputed general election results, Mission Network News (MNN) reports.