Georgian PM threatens criminal prosecution of President Zurabishvili

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said that the country's President Salome Zurabishvili will have to leave office on 29 December, when her term of office expires, and threatened her with prison if she does not do so. Kobakhidze said this at a briefing, Sova reports.

Let's see where she will continue to live - behind bars or free. I think she has enough reasons not to violate the norms of the Criminal Code," said the Prime Minister.

Kobakhidze admitted that it is possible that 72-year-old Zurabishvili will not be sent to prison, but "she, having decided to stay in the residence, may endanger the arrest of those who will be there with her".

On 14 December, Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former footballer, who was the only candidate and has no higher education, won the presidential election in Georgia, which was not recognised by the opposition. He was nominated by the pro-Russian party Georgian Dream. The first time the country's parliamentarians voted for the president, at the same time, voters were deprived of the opportunity to vote.

Georgia's incumbent President Salome Zurabishvili has said she will not resign because the parliament, which she calls illegitimate, cannot elect her successor.

In a statement, four opposition parties - Coalition for Change, Unity - National Movement, Strong Georgia, and Gakharia for Georgia - called Zurabishvili the only legitimate representative of Georgia.