Former soccer player Mikheil Kavelashvili has been inaugurated as president of Georgia in what the opposition calls a blow to the country’s EU aspirations and a victory for former imperial ruler Russia.

Former soccer player Mikheil Kavelashvili was formally inaugurated as president of Georgia on Sunday, cementing the ruling party's grip in what the opposition calls a blow to the country’s EU aspirations and a victory for former imperial ruler Russia.

Georgia inaugurated a far-right governing party loyalist as president Sunday, escalating a political showdown moments after his pro-EU predecessor declared herself the "only legitimate president". Security programme advisor Mariam Tokhadze spoke to FRANCE 24 about what comes next in the Caucasus country where authoritarianism looms large.

Georgia is set to inaugurate on Sunday a ruling party loyalist as president, after his election was declared "illegitimate" by the outgoing leader and the pro-Western opposition.Opposition parties have refused to enter the newly elected parliament,

A political storm in Tbilisi. On Sunday, Mikheil Kavelashvili was sworn in as president. This occurred amidst protests. The opposition is demonstrating, and people have gathered in the streets. Mikheil Kavelashvili assumed office as the president of Georgia during a ceremony attended by members of the ruling party,