Thousands of demonstrators formed a human chain in Georgia's capital Tbilisi on Saturday in protest against the regime and to emphasize the demands for resumed negotiations on a possible EU membership. The extensive demonstrations have been going on for two months in Georgia, protests that are directly aimed at the Georgian Dream party and Prime Minister Irakli Kobachidze.
The peaceful manifestation was also held the day before the former football player Micheil Kavelasjvili was sworn in as the new president in a process controlled by the ruling party. He is, unlike the outgoing Salomé Zourabichvili, loyal to the ruling party and a fierce critic of all Western influence in Georgia.
The outgoing President Zourabichvili had previously stated that she would refuse to leave the presidential post and expressed strong support for the protests against the government. Zourabichvili also participated in Saturday's manifestation.
