Georgians protest as pro-Russian party locks in ex-footballer as president

We urge Georgian Dream to de-escalate and put an end to this environment that comes with severe costs for the Georgian people,

the EU said on Tuesday, calling for respect of the wishes of the Georgian people to become members of the bloc

Georgia, Moldova, Romania, everywhere Russia is using electoral interference and diversified hybrid instruments to try to derail those countries from their democratic path. It is a war on elections, a war on Europe."

She added

Salome Zourabichvilipresident

It's nothing. No one has elected anyone. Nothing has happened."

Salome Zourabichvili responded, saying

Thank you, thank you, young people; let's thank them for fighting for the country's future,

she said

I remain your president — there is no legitimate Parliament and thus no legitimate election or inauguration, ... My mandate continues.”

she has declared on the social network X

Salome Zourabichvilipresident

We are not demanding a revolution,

Zourabichvili said

Irakli Kobakhidzeprime Minister

The main mission of the presidential institution is to care for the unity of the nation and society,

said Kobakhidze, a former university professor and later chairman of Georgian Dream

Georgia has been always resisting Russian influence and will not accept having its vote stolen and its destiny stolen,

she said

Georgia is facing an unprecedented constitutional crisis,

Khmaladze told AFP

Georgia’s European dream must not be extinguished”.

In a video address to Georgians published on Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron said

There’s no alternative candidate … because the opposition believes this government is illegitimate, so they’re not taking part in any processes that would legitimise the government.”

Reporting from Tbilisi, Al Jazeera’s Dmitry Medvedenko said

The sense in the population is that we are at a real turning point. Either this struggle succeeds … to resist this or we will enter into a regime that will be more or less the Russian regime of [Vladimir] Putin,

she said

We are by your side in supporting your European and democratic aspirations,

he said in a video address

Today's election represents the clear wish of the system to bring Georgia back to its Soviet roots,

he said

I can hardly imagine anyone less suited for the role of head of state,

historian Nika Gobronidze, 53, told AFP

Caligula wanted his horse to be a consul, our oligarch wants his puppet Kavelashvili to be a president,

he said, referring to the Roman emperor