Thousands protesting outside Georgian parliament in support of ex-president

Participants of the rally, who gathered early in the morning outside the Georgian president's residence in Tbilisi to show their support for ex-President Salome Zourabichvili, have moved to the parliament building.

Several thousand people have completely occupied the square in front of the parliament and blocked Rustaveli Avenue, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media. 

They are holding red cards, a gesture that serves as a reminder to Georgia's newly elected President Mikheil Kavelashvili of his football past. Police officers are on duty near the parliament, and the situation remains calm.

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