Parliament speaker: Presidential palace belongs to Georgian people rather than to outgoing president

Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili has said that after taking office, Georgia's newly elected President Mikheil Kavelashvili will begin working at the Presidential Palace located on Orbeliani Square.

Papuashvili made these remarks during a briefing, Caliber.Az report per Russian media.

However, outgoing president Salome Zourabichvili has expressed her disagreement with this decision.

"Of course, Kavelashvili will begin his work at Orbeliani Square. This building was not inherited by Zourabichvili. It belongs to the Georgian people and their president. Today, after the oath of office, Salome Zourabichvili will no longer be the president of Georgia. Mikheil Kavelashvili will be the president of Georgia," Papuashvili said in response to journalists’ questions about where Kavelashvili will work after his inauguration. 

On December 29, Mikheil Kavelashvili's inauguration will take place in the Georgian parliament. However, Zourabichvili does not recognize the legitimacy of the October 26 parliamentary elections and considers Kavelashvili to be an illegitimate president. She has already called on her supporters to gather at the Presidential Palace. Zourabichvili, who spent the night at the palace, has promised to soon announce her plans for the future. People are already gathering outside the palace, awaiting her briefing.

On December 14, the Georgian Parliament held presidential election, marking the first indirect election of the head of state. Kavelashvili, the candidate nominated by the ruling Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia party, was the only contender and secured 224 votes out of 300, becoming the sixth president of the republic.

By Naila Huseynova