The nomination ceremony took place in the parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi. Representatives of the self-proclaimed parliament and government were present. Foreign diplomats were not invited.
Meanwhile, an anti-government demonstration has been taking place in Tbilisi since morning under the slogan "red card for Kavelashvili".
Addressing a crowd of protesters, Georgia's incumbent president Salome Zourabichvili reiterated that the government, parliament and president controlled by the party of oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili are acting in violation of the country's constitution and do not have a mandate to govern. She called the rule of the Georgian Dream a “Russian dictatorship.”
Zourabichvili called on Georgians to fight for a return to the path of democratic and European development, and on the international community to support the efforts of the Georgian people. She promised to continue to stand with those who are demonstrating against the illegitimate government.
Salome Zourabichvili also announced that she would leave the residence, where the self-proclaimed president Mikhail Kavelashvili would move in. "I am leaving the residence, but I am taking the legality of power with me" - she declared.
In Tbilisi, as well as all across Georgia, protesters have been continuously taking to the streets since November 28, demanding new parliamentary elections. In response, the new government has been reported to try and quench the demonstrations with violence of both police and the so-called "titushky" - mercenary agents targeting the protesters.
On December 29, as the new Georgian president is sworn in - the largest protests to date are expected.
Both the Polish Parliament and President Andrzej Duda have in recent weeks expressed their official support for President Zourabichvili and for the Georgian people who do not recognize the results of the questionable parliamentary elections taking their country off the path towards Europe.
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Source: IAR, PAP