Mikheil Kavelashvili has been elected president of Georgia as protests erupt over the government’s decision to freeze European Union accession talks. With nearly unanimous support from a college of electors, Kavelashvili’s election marks a shift away from pro-Western policies. His candidacy was backed by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, and opposition parties have boycotted parliament, deeming the recent elections fraudulent. Protests against the Georgian Dream party’s policies have escalated, resulting in clashes with police and increased government restrictions on demonstrations.