Author: Hazel Cagan Elbir

Georgia has recently emerged as the country in the South Caucasus where Western concerns are most visible. Under normal circumstances, after a peaceful election process, one would expect a handover ceremony and the new president to take office. However, the situation following the elections in Georgia has unfolded contrary to these general expectations. On Dec. 29, 2024, the presidential handover was expected to take place. However, former President Salome Zourabichvili declared that the elections were fraudulent, that she did not accept the results and therefore did not recognize Mikhail Kavelashvili, elected by the 300-member electoral college resulting from these elections,…