Mikheil Kavelashvili has been elected as the sixth President of Georgia with 224 votes out of 300, amid ongoing protests and controversy over the legitimacy of the elections.
Mikheil Kavelashvili Elected President of Georgia Amid Protests
Mikheil Kavelashvili has been elected the sixth President of Georgia, receiving 224 votes out of 300 from the Electoral College in an election marked by protests and political tensions. The voting, conducted in the Georgian parliament, saw only one candidate—Kavelashvili, nominated by the ruling party, "Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia."
The opposition, led by current President Salome Zurabishvili, has rejected the legitimacy of the election, labeling the parliament and government as unconstitutional. Protests erupted outside the parliament building during the vote, with demonstrators blocking streets and calling for new parliamentary elections. The parliament was heavily guarded by police amid the unrest.
A Symbolic Presidency
The role of the Georgian president is largely symbolic, with limited powers such as issuing pardons and vetoing laws. International representation by the president now requires government approval, following constitutional amendments that transitioned Georgia into a parliamentary republic in 2018.
Ongoing Protests
Protests in Georgia have persisted since late November, fueled by the government’s decision to delay EU accession negotiations until 2028. Demonstrators have accused the authorities of undermining Georgia’s European integration efforts. While initially marked by violent clashes, recent protests have become more subdued but remain widespread, with opposition groups and activists maintaining their stance against the ruling party.
Kavelashvili’s inauguration is set for December 29, but tensions continue to simmer. Outgoing President Salome Zurabishvili has refused to vacate the Orbeliani Palace, claiming she remains the country’s only legitimate representative until new parliamentary elections are held.
The political crisis raises questions about Georgia's democratic future and its path toward European integration, as protests and opposition to the ruling government show no signs of abating.
An exhibition of Azerbaijani and Turkmen carpets and handicrafts has opened in Tbilisi, celebrating the rich cultural heritage and centuries-old weaving traditions of both nations.
Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili is set to meet with Pope Leo XIV on Monday at the Vatican, the president announced earlier today.
Armenian alcohol producers rallied outside the Georgian Embassy in Yerevan, demanding answers over prolonged border delays they say are blocking exports to Russia and causing major financial losses.
Georgia’s State Security Service has dismissed a U.S. Embassy warning about a bomb threat at Tbilisi malls as false, criticizing the embassy for issuing the alert without coordination and urging more responsible diplomatic communication.
The US Embassy in Georgia has cautioned American citizens about potential security threats at several major shopping malls in Tbilisi, though Georgian officials have refuted the claims as unfounded.
Turkish President Erdogan met Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Istanbul, vowing stronger ties in defence, energy, and transport sectors.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang says Beijing is considering new, even unconventional, policy tools as global trade disruptions intensify.
Germany is stepping up its military readiness, aiming to fully equip its armed forces by 2029 amid rising concerns over future threats from Russia.
Trump called Putin “crazy” after Russia’s record-breaking missile assault on Ukraine, marking his harshest public criticism yet of the Russian leader.
Hong Kong is seizing an unexpected opportunity to attract top academic talent after the U.S. banned Harvard from enrolling international students. The city’s universities are stepping in with offers and support to affected students.
AnewZ takes to the streets of Yerevan and Baku to ask a simple yet deeply complex question: How do you see peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan? In the first part of our special report, we hear the hopes, doubts, and scars still shaping people’s perspectives on both sides.
Tensions flare in the India-France Rafale deal as France refuses to share the fighter jet’s source code, limiting India’s ability to integrate indigenous weapons and reducing its combat autonomy.
France has rejected India’s request to share source codes needed to integrate indigenous weapons into Rafale fighter jets. Despite repeated appeals, French manufacturer Dassault Aviation has refused to compromise on the issue
Anton Kobyakov, adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, claimed at the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum that the USSR’s dissolution was legally invalid and that the Soviet Union still exists under constitutional law, framing the Ukraine war as an “internal process.”
Kyiv faced a large-scale Russian drone and missile assault overnight, with explosions and gunfire echoing throughout the city, forcing residents to shelter in subway stations.
Turkish President Erdogan met Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Istanbul, vowing stronger ties in defence, energy, and transport sectors.
Germany is stepping up its military readiness, aiming to fully equip its armed forces by 2029 amid rising concerns over future threats from Russia.
Trump called Putin “crazy” after Russia’s record-breaking missile assault on Ukraine, marking his harshest public criticism yet of the Russian leader.
Hong Kong is seizing an unexpected opportunity to attract top academic talent after the U.S. banned Harvard from enrolling international students. The city’s universities are stepping in with offers and support to affected students.
Southeast Asian leaders are meeting in Kuala Lumpur to voice concern over U.S. tariff policies and forge stronger regional and global alliances.
Turkish President Erdogan met Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Istanbul, vowing stronger ties in defence, energy, and transport sectors.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang says Beijing is considering new, even unconventional, policy tools as global trade disruptions intensify.
Germany is stepping up its military readiness, aiming to fully equip its armed forces by 2029 amid rising concerns over future threats from Russia.
Trump called Putin “crazy” after Russia’s record-breaking missile assault on Ukraine, marking his harshest public criticism yet of the Russian leader.
Hong Kong is seizing an unexpected opportunity to attract top academic talent after the U.S. banned Harvard from enrolling international students. The city’s universities are stepping in with offers and support to affected students.
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