Written by Gleb Stolyarov and Felix Light
TBILISI (Reuters) – Mikheil Kavelashvili, a hard-line critic of the West, was sworn in as Georgia's president on Sunday amid a political crisis after the government froze EU accession talks in a move that sparked massive protests.
Outgoing President Salome Zurabishvili, a pro-EU critic of the ruling party, said in a defiant speech to supporters outside the presidential palace that she would leave her residence but remain the rightful office holder.
Zurabishvili says Kavelashvili was not properly selected, as the lawmakers who chose him were elected in parliamentary elections held in October, which she says were characterized by fraud. It is supported by opposition parties in Georgia.
The ruling Georgian Dream party and the country's election commission say the October elections were free and fair. The ruling party says Kavelashvili is the duly elected president.
