Georgia's ruling party to inaugurate disputed president amid political crisis

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00:00On the eve of the inauguration of Georgia's president-elect, Mikhail Kavalashvili,

00:05hundreds are back on the streets protesting against the Georgian Dream Party following

00:09a decision to postpone the country's EU accession talks until 2028 and a highly contested election

00:16which has been called illegitimate by the outgoing president and pro-Western opposition parties.

00:22Appointed in mid-December by an electoral college controlled by the ruling party,

00:27former footballer Mikhail Kavalashvili is known for his ultra-conservative and

00:32Russia-friendly stances. The current head of state, Salome Zurabishvili, who refuses

00:38to leave the presidential palace, has been given a warning by Prime Minister Irakli Kabahidze.

00:44This would constitute a criminal offence punishable by many years of imprisonment,

00:48including for anyone involved in such a scenario.

00:51France has denounced these comments, describing them as threats.

00:56The US has also stepped in, imposing sanctions on the party founder of the Georgian Dream,

01:01Bidzina Ivanishvili.

01:03His actions have eroded democratic institutions,

01:06enabled human rights abuses and curbed the fundamental freedoms in Georgia.

01:10The swearing-in of the new president will take place in parliament behind closed doors,

01:15a first in Georgia's history.

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