TBILISI, Georgia — Former footballer Mikheil Kavelashvili was sworn in as Georgia’s president on Saturday after a vote by the ruling Georgian Dream party’s controlled electoral college.

His election has deepened political turmoil, with opposition leaders and protesters calling it a setback for the country’s EU aspirations and a victory for Russian influence.

Kavelashvili, 53, secured the presidency through a vote by a 300-member electoral college comprising Parliament members, municipal councilors, and regional legislators.

The college replaced direct presidential elections in 2017, a change criticized for undermining democratic accountability.

The ruling Georgian Dream party, which retained its parliamentary majority in a contested October 26 election, continues to face accusations of authoritarianism and pro-Russian policies. Opposition leaders claim the election was rigged with Moscow’s backing and have demanded a rerun.

Kavelashvili, a former striker for Manchester City and co-founder of the People’s Power movement, has been criticized by opponents for lacking higher education and promoting anti-Western rhetoric.

He was one of the authors of a controversial law requiring organizations receiving over 20% of their funding from abroad to register as “foreign agents.” This law, modeled on Russian legislation, has been widely condemned by the EU and the U.S.

The EU, which granted Georgia candidate status in December 2023 contingent on reforms, suspended the country’s accession talks in June following the passage of the “foreign influence” law.

Outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili, a pro-Western leader and outspoken critic of Georgian Dream, called the electoral process a “parody” and declared herself the only legitimate leader.

“There is no legitimate Parliament and thus no legitimate election or inauguration,” she wrote on social media platform X.

Zourabichvili, who was elected in 2018 with Georgian Dream’s support before breaking with the party, accused the government of undermining democratic principles and Georgia’s EU aspirations.

She has vowed to remain in office until new elections are held under fair conditions.

Thousands of demonstrators have gathered nightly outside the Parliament building in Tbilisi since Georgian Dream announced the suspension of EU accession talks on November 28.

Protesters, waving EU flags and chanting pro-European slogans, have clashed with riot police, who have used water cannons, tear gas, and force to disperse the crowds.

The unrest has resulted in hundreds of arrests, over 100 injuries, and reports of journalists being targeted.

Opposition leaders and activists accuse the government of deploying thugs to intimidate protesters, an allegation Georgian Dream denies.

The protests have drawn strong condemnation from Western allies. EU officials have criticized the government’s actions as a betrayal of Georgia’s aspirations for European integration.

Georgian Dream has defended its governance, asserting that it remains committed to EU accession while seeking to “reset” relations with Russia. The South Caucasus nation shares a fraught history with its northern neighbor, including a brief war in 2008 that led to Russia recognizing two breakaway Georgian regions as independent states.

Critics argue that Georgian Dream’s policies, influenced by party founder and billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, signal a drift toward Moscow. The government’s recent crackdowns on LGBTQ+ rights and freedom of speech have further fueled concerns about democratic backsliding.

Despite the challenges, demonstrators remain resolute. “If (the government) wants to go to Russia, they can go to Russia, because we are not going anywhere. We are staying here,” said protester Kato Kalatozishvili.

The opposition has pledged to escalate its demands for new elections and democratic reforms, signaling prolonged unrest in Georgia’s political landscape. — Agencies