Thousands protested in the Georgian capital Tbilisi on Saturday ahead of the inauguration of new President Mikheil Kavelashvili scheduled for Sunday, calling for the release of arrested protesters and against the government they consider illegitimate, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
According to Georgian media reports, a human chain passed through the entire city before the demonstrators gathered in front of the parliament building.
There were also protests in other cities in Georgia.
Pro-Western President Salome Zurabishvili intends to prevent Kavelashvili's inauguration because she does not recognize the legitimacy of his election. She called on her supporters to gather in front of parliament on Sunday.
“I am waiting for you in front of the Orbeliani Palace“, she said, according to the NewsGeorgia news agency. Zurabishvili said she would then decide with her supporters how to proceed in the next few days.
For weeks, thousands have been demonstrating every day in Georgia, demanding a return to pro-European policies and new parliamentary elections. In the October vote, the nationalist ruling party “Georgian Dream“ declared itself the winner.
Protesters fear that the ruling party has too close ties to Russia and will draw the country further into Moscow's orbit.