Thousands of Georgians protested in the capital Tbilisi as a new president allied with the ruling Georgian Dream party was inaugurated. Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former pro-footballer, has been sworn in during a critical political period for the country after the government suspended its application to join the European Union.

Georgia on Sunday inaugurated governing party loyalist Mikheil Kavelashvili as president despite his election being declared "illegitimate" by the outgoing leader and opposition groups.