The appointment of Georgia’s new president, Mikheil Kavelashvili, is controversial, as the election results have been challenged by the opposition and independent observers. Georgian Dream’s victory allowed them to nominate a new president after the term of outgoing pro-European president Salome Zourabichvili expired. Zourabichvili has refused to recognise either the new parliament or Kavelashvili as legitimate but vacated the presidential residence under pressure.
Kavelashvili played for the British football club Manchester City in the 1990s but recently made a rapid ascent in Georgian politics. He is a staunch advocate for a pro-Russian direction for the country. Russia holds significant influence in Georgia and has militarily occupied two of its regions. The founder of Georgian Dream, Irakli Garibashvili, a wealthy businessman, amassed much of his fortune in Russia.
In addition to his pro-Russian stance, Kavelashvili is a vocal critic of the LGBT+ community. He has described homosexuality as “an act against humanity” and accused “the West” of “trying to make as many people as possible tolerant” regarding LGBT+ rights.
The new president supported a controversial Georgian law banning LGBT+ “propaganda.” This law allows Georgian authorities to prohibit Pride events and censor LGBT+ representation in films and books. Neighbouring Russia has a similar law. The European Union has expressed concerns about LGBT+ rights in Georgia. Curtailing these rights could hinder Georgia’s potential accession to the EU, which is also alarmed by the country’s pro-Russian policies and the disputed election victory of Georgian Dream.