Defiant and unwavering: Georgia’s president Salome Zourabichvili is focus for hope

Refusal to leave palace for successor backed by autocratic Georgian Dream party on day of departure stirs protesters

In Georgia’s turbulent political standoff, President Salome Zourabichvili has emerged as a defiant figure.

Zourabichvili’s role in Georgia is ceremonial, but far from fading into irrelevance in the twilight of her presidency, she has become a rallying figure for those opposed to the erosion of democracy and the abandonment of Georgia’s European aspirations. On Sunday, she is supposed to step down and hand the Orbeliani Palace to her successor, Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former football player backed by the ruling party, Georgian Dream, but she has said she will refuse.

Topics

Beschloss: History will remember Carter as a president who restored hope across the U.S.

Presidential historian Michael Beschloss reports on the life and legacy of the 39th president of the U.S., Jimmy Carter. Taking a closer look at Carter's political legacy, Beschloss recounts some ...
NBC News - 7h
The ‘Carter effect’: How the former president gave cancer patients hope

The Jimmy Carter drug introduced the world to cancer immunotherapy, a treatment that differs from chemotherapy. Carter was diagnosed with melanoma in 2015.
NBC News - 23h
'Plain-wrapper guy' Gunner Stockton suddenly carrying Georgia's CFP hopes

Quarterback Gunner Stockton might not have the flash of Carson Beck, but he has a Bulldogs' pedigree.
ESPN - 1d
Former Manchester City footballer sworn in as Georgia's president

Former Manchester City footballer Mikheil Kavelashvili has been sworn in as the president of Georgia.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Kavelashvili inaugurated as Georgia's president, complicating its path toward EU

Former soccer player Mikheil Kavelashvili has been inaugurated as president of Georgia in what the opposition calls a blow to the country’s EU aspirations and a victory for former imperial ruler ...
ABC News - 1d
Kavelashvili is inaugurated as Georgia's president, complicating its path toward EU

Yahoo News - 1d
Georgia's outgoing president refuses to quit as successor sworn in

Former head of state Salome Zourabichvili agreed to leave the presidential residence, but vowed to fight on.
BBC News - 1d
Georgia's pro-Western president refuses to leave and prepares for showdown

Salome Zourabichvili's term is due to end on Sunday, but she says she is her country's last legitimate institution.
BBC News - 2d
Depleted Notre Dame defense hopes to make an impact against Georgia in CFP quarterfinals

Seventh-seeded Notre Dame faces the task of replacing another key defensive player as it prepares for second-seeded Georgia and a Bulldogs' quarterback the Fighting Irish know little about
ABC News - 2d