Georgia: pro-EU demonstration before the inauguration of the new contested president

Thousands of pro-European demonstrators gathered on Saturday in Tbilisi in Georgia to protest against the government, on the eve of the inauguration of the new president of this Caucasian country, contested by the opposition.

Protesters formed a human chain along the river in central Tbilisi, some wrapped in Georgian flags andUE. Others had unfurled a banner demanding release of political prisonersnoted journalists from theAFP.

The protesters demanded the release of those detained during previous demonstrations and the holding of new legislative elections.

Everyone must understand that the protests will not stop until all demands are metassured theAFP one participant, Teimouraz Tsiklauri, 23, student in international relations.

This Caucasian country has been plunged into a political crisis since the October legislative elections which gave victory to the ruling Georgian Dream party, but which were denounced as being marred by irregularities by the pro-Western opposition.

The decision of the authorities to postpone efforts to integrate theUE to 2028 ignited the powder, provoking several weeks of pro-European demonstrations, some of which were dispersed by the police.

The country is preparing for the inauguration on Sunday of a new president loyal to the Georgian Dream, Mikheïl Kavelashvili, known for his ultraconservative and anti-Western positions.

The current president says she is the only legitimate representative of power

Although the powers of the presidency are limited in Georgia, the inauguration should spark a new mobilization of supporters of rapid accession to theUEespecially since the current occupant of the post, Salomé Zourabichvili, announced that she refused to give up her mandate without the organization of new legislative elections.

This former French diplomat is at odds with the government and claims to be the only legitimate representative of power. She supported the protesters and joined the human chain in Tbilisi on Saturday, according to Georgian television.

The inauguration of the new president will have no meaningassured theAFP a demonstrator, Natia, 27 years old, political science graduate.

Kavelashvili will never be president of Georgia. Just like the Georgian Dream will never be the ruling force of the country, because it is not a legitimate governmentshe said.

The Georgian Dream, accused by its detractors of authoritarian drift, for its part denies any fraud in the legislative elections and accuses the opposition of wanting to provoke a revolution, according to it, financed from abroad.