Augusta, GA – In December 2024, Georgia’s parliament selected Mikheil Kavelashvili as the country’s new president, sparking a fierce political dispute. Kavelashvili, a close ally of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, replaced Salome Zourabichvili, who had held the presidency since 2018 following a popular vote. This decision has ignited a wave of controversy, with opposition parties and Zourabichvili herself questioning the legitimacy of both the presidential appointment and the results of the October 2024 parliamentary elections.

The Georgian Dream party, which officially won 54.09% of the vote in the parliamentary elections, has been accused by the opposition of rigging the election. This allegation has fueled a broader narrative that neither the parliamentary election results nor Kavelashvili’s ascendancy to the presidency are legitimate. In response, opposition groups have boycotted parliament and called for new elections, continuing their resistance to what they describe as a government that came to power through fraudulent means.

Adding complexity to the situation, Zourabichvili, who remains a vocal critic of the current regime, was in Washington in early January 2025. She attended the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump at the invitation of Republican Representative Joe Wilson from South Carolina. While in Washington, Zourabichvili gave an interview to Voice of America, reaffirming her position and drawing international attention to Georgia’s ongoing political crisis.

Zourabichvili’s international presence signals the high stakes of the current dispute, as the former president seeks support from the global community to challenge the Georgian Dream’s grip on power. Her remarks in Washington echoed the frustrations of opposition leaders back home, who argue that the ruling party’s actions undermine Georgia’s democratic processes and threaten the country’s political stability.

As the standoff continues, Georgia finds itself at a crossroads, with the government and opposition locked in a struggle for legitimacy. International actors, including Western governments and international organizations, will likely play a crucial role in shaping the outcome of this conflict, which could have far-reaching consequences for Georgia’s political future.