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Mikhail Kavelashvili, who was sworn in as Georgia's new president as a pro-European predecessor, refuses to recognize his legitimacy.
Mikhail Kavelashvili was sworn in as Georgia's president at a ceremony in parliament in the capital Tbilisi amid weeks of protests and refused to let his pro-Western predecessor stand aside.
Outgoing President Salome Zurabishvili said Sunday in a defiant speech to hundreds of supporters outside the presidential palace that she was leaving the residence but remained the rightful holder of the post.
“This travesty that is currently being played out in the parliament is a true travesty that the country does not deserve,” Zurabishvili said.
She added that Kavelashvili was not properly elected because the lawmakers who elected him were elected in parliamentary elections in October that she said were marred by fraud.
The pro-EU leader and protesters are demanding a new vote to replace the election in question.
The ruling Georgian Dream party and the country's election commission say the October elections were free and fair.
Kavelashvili, a 53-year-old former national soccer player, swore an oath on the Bible and Georgia's constitution, vowing to serve the country's interests amid a political crisis.
According to local media reports, there were no significant protests outside the parliament buildings while Kavelashvili was being sworn in.
Duly elected president
The ruling party, which controls parliament, also says Kavelashvili is a duly elected president.
The Georgian Dream party threatened Zurabishvili with prison if he refused to leave the presidential residence in central Tbilisi.
The Georgian Dream-led government has frozen EU membership talks in a move that has sparked widespread protests.
Opponents of Georgian Dream accuse it of steering Tbilisi towards Moscow rather than the Caucasian country's long-held goal of joining the EU.
