Daily Sabah (21 January 2025)

Hazel ÇAĞAN ELBİR*

Georgia's election crisis highlights Western concerns about the country's increasing alignment with Russia and growing alienation from EU integration.

Georgia has recently emerged as the country in the South Caucasus where Western concerns are most visible. Under normal circumstances, after a peaceful election process, one would expect a handover ceremony and the new president to take office. However, the situation following the elections in Georgia has unfolded contrary to these general expectations. On Dec. 29, 2024, the presidential handover was expected to take place. However, former President Salome Zourabichvili declared that the elections were fraudulent, that she did not accept the results and therefore did not recognize Mikhail Kavelashvili, elected by the 300-member electoral college resulting from these elections, as the legitimate president. She stated that her presidency would continue regardless.

Later, Zourabichvili retracted her statement, saying she would leave the presidential residence but that this did not mean she was giving up her presidency. Ultimately, Kavelashvili was able to take the office. Thus, Zourabichvili’s resistance proved ineffective. Consequently, Georgia has begun anew with a new president and administration.

To read the reast of the article, please click:​ https://www.dailysabah.com/opinion/op-ed/aftermath-of-georgia-elections-western-concerns 

*Analyst at Center for Eurasian Studies (AVİM)

**Photo: Daily Sabah