Kavelashvili was sworn in behind closed doors on Sunday to become Georgia’s sixth President.
JAMES EVENDEN FROM THE SUN
A FORMER footballer who played for Manchester City has been sworn in as the new President of Georgia
Mikheil Kavelashvili, 53, who played for the blues from 1995 to 1997, has today taken office – but the former midfielder has been accused of being a “puppet” for Vladimir Putin.
The former football star is known for his profanity-laden tirades in Parliament, as an MP since 2016 for the increasingly authoritarian ruling Georgian Dream party.
Georgian Dream, founded by billionaire businessman and former Georgian PM Bidzina Ivanishvili, has been accused of dragging the country back into Russia’s sphere of influence.
Kavelashvili was the only candidate for the job and is thought to have been picked for his loyalist stances towards Georgian Dream.
Connect with us on our socials: