Mr Kavelashvili holds anti-Western and often conspiratorial views, having previously claimed that Western intelligence agencies are attempting to push Georgia into war with Russia, its ruler for two centuries until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
He was a striker for Manchester City between 1996 and 1997, before playing for a number of clubs in the Swiss Super League.
He was first elected to parliament in 2016 for the Georgian Dream party – which is trying to deepen ties with Russia since the war began in Ukraine – and in November 2024 was selected as its presidential candidate.
Mr Kavelashvili’s election comes following huge protests against the government led by the Georgian Dream party, after it moved to freeze accession to the EU – a long standing goal which is written into the country’s constitution – until 2028.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 15, 2024-Ausgabe von The Independent.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 15, 2024-Ausgabe von The Independent.
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