Eurasia Press & News
Georgia’s new president said Monday that he would press ahead with efforts to deepen the former Soviet republic’s ties with the West despite Russian concerns.
European leaders and observers hailed Sunday’s “clean” election won by Georgy Margvelashvili, an ally of billionaire Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, as a sign that democracy was maturing in the small South Caucasus state.
“Europe is our choice and this election is a confirmation of our European course,” Margvelashvili, 44, a mild-mannered academic and political novice, told a news conference.
Making clear Georgia would not bow to Russian pressure to abandon its rapprochement with Europe, he said: “We’ll have a constructive and firm position based on principles.”
Margvelashvili won more than 60 percent of votes, partial results showed, sparking noisy celebrations by his supporters in the capital Tbilisi.
Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream ruling coalition now controls Georgia’s presidency, government and Parliament for the first time, but the prime minister plans to quit shortly after only two years in politics.
