A former Premier League footballer has been appointed president of Georgia amid heightening tensions over the country’s relationship with Russia.
Mikheil Kavelashvili, 53, was a striker for Manchester City between 1996 and 1997, and later played for several clubs in the Swiss Super League.
He was elected to parliament in 2016, and in 2022 co-founded the People’s Power political movement, which was allied with ruling party Georgian Dream, and became known for its strong far-right and anti-Western rhetoric.
Mr Kavelashvili easily won the presidential vote as the Georgian Dream party controls a 300-seat electoral college that replaced direct presidential elections 2017. It is made up of members of parliament, municipal councils and regional legislatures.
His election marks the tightening grip of ruling Georgian Dream in what the opposition says is a blow to the country’s EU aspirations and a victory for former imperial ruler Russia.
Georgia’s main pro-Western parties have boycotted parliamentary sessions and demanded a rerun of the October election, which it alleges was rigged with Moscow’s help.
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