Mikhail Kavelashvili, backed by the ruling Georgian Dream party, was elected president of Georgia on Monday, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Kaveshvili, 53, is a former Georgian international football player who played for Manchester City in his career. He is considered close to the ruling party, which at the end of last month froze negotiations on joining the European Union for at least four years - a decision that sparked protests.
In accordance with constitutional changes adopted by the "Georgian Dream" party, the president was elected for the first time not in direct elections, by a 300-member electoral college that includes deputies from the 150-seat parliament and representatives of local election councils.
Despite the freezing weather, hundreds of supporters of the pro-Western opposition gathered outside parliament to protest against the expected election of Kavelashvili as president, AFP noted.