Mikheil Kavelashvili, a hardline critic of the West, was sworn in as president of Georgia on Sunday amid a political crisis after the government froze European Union application talks in a move that sparked major protests.

Mikheil Kavelashvili, the anti-Western "President" of Georgia, whose legitimacy is not recognised by much of the international community, incumbent Georgian leader Salome Zourabichvili along with the opposition signed several laws on his inauguration day,

Mikheil Kavelashvili sworn in as Georgia’s president amid protests, EU tensions, and accusations of electoral fraud by outgoing leader Salome Zourabichvili.

The president says she won't step down on Monday, when the newly elected president, Mikheil Kavelashvili, is due to take over. View on euronews

Mikheil Kavelashvili was inaugurated as president of Georgia on Sunday, following a tumultuous election period marked by further divisions between pro-Russian and pro-EU factions of the former Soviet state.

Former soccer player Mikheil Kavelashvili was formally inaugurated president of Georgia on Sunday, as the ruling party tightened its grip in what the opposition calls a blow to the country’s EU aspirations and a victory for former imperial ruler Russia.

Georgia inaugurated a ruling party loyalist and former footballer as president in the midst of a political showdown on Sunday.