Mikheil Kavalashvili (53) has been sworn in as the new President of Georgia, succeeding outgoing President Salome Zurabishvili.

Kavalashvili became President of Georgia for a 5-year term after winning 224 out of 225 votes cast in the electoral college.

The Georgian Dream party won last October’s parliamentary elections and nominated Kavalashvili for the presidency.

Former President Salome Zurabashvili did not recognise Kavalashvili’s election and, backed by mass protests, is calling for new elections.