By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

TBILISI/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Georgia’s parliament has elected Mikheil Kavelashvili, a pro-Russian former professional football player, as the country’s new president, raising concerns in the West. Kavelashvili has strong anti-Western views.

In public remarks this year, he repeatedly alleged that Western intelligence agencies are seeking to drive Georgia into war with Russia, which still occupies about 20 percent of the country.

Georgian presidents are appointed by a college of electors comprised of legislators and local government representatives. Of the 225 electors present, 224 voted for Kavelashvili, the only candidate nominated.

His election was due to add to social and political tensions. He was to replace a pro-Western incumbent despite significant protests against the government over a halt to the country’s European Union accession talks.

The ruling Georgian Dream party’s move last month to freeze the EU membership process until 2028 abruptly halted a long-standing national goal written into the country’s constitution.

BROAD ANGER

It provoked widespread anger in Georgia, where opinion polls show that seeking EU membership is overwhelmingly popular.

There has been a violent crackdown by riot police on pro-EU protestors. Among those injured was Davit Okruashvili, a 33-year-old information security analyst.

He still bears the marks of his recent beating, with both eyes blackened, reporters witnessed. “It was November 29, around 11 p.m. behind the parliament, when the riot police came down on us mercilessly,” he recalled.

More violence and political turmoil are expected as the outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili, a pro-EU critic of the ruling Georgian Dream party, has positioned herself as a protest movement leader.

She warned that she would remain president after her term ends. Zourabichvili considers parliament illegitimate because of alleged fraud in the October election.

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