Georgia’s ex-president vows support as Ukraine’s Zelensky ‘needs it’
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Tuesday, May 7
Georgian former President Mikheil Saakashvili, who is wanted both in Georgia and Ukraine, says that the Ukraine President-elect, comic actor Volodymyr Zelensky is in need of his help to fulfill the promises he had given his people.
Saakashvili said that he was unlawfully forced to leave both Georgia and Ukraine.
“I will definitely return back both in Ukraine and Georgia,” Saakashvili told the Polish media.
He stated that he has “big plans” in Georgia and claimed that he will save the country from “oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili” [the billionaire who founded the Georgian Dream ruling party and defeated the nine-year-rule of Saakashvili’s government in 2012], with the help of Georgian emigrants.
Georgian PM Mamuka Bakhtadze had congratulated Zelensky and stated that “Georgia stands with Ukraine in its peaceful and democratic decision.”
Georgian political experts believe that a lot will be depended on Zelensky’s decisions concerning Saakashvili in the future relations of Georgia and Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office declared Saakashvili is wanted for three alleged crimes back in 2017 when the latter called corrupt to his former ally Poroshenko and demanded his resignation in front of Rada.
Before that Poroshenko deprived him [Saakashvili] of his Ukrainian citizenship.
The Prosecutor’s Office of Ukraine said that Saakashvili was accused of supporting and assisting of a criminal group, an attempt to commit a crime and a premeditated offense by a group of people.
Poroshenko appointed Saakashvili as the Odessa Governor in May 2015, but in November 2016 the Georgian ex-President left the post, accusing Poroshenko of corruption.
Saakashvili, who served as Georgia’s third president from 2004 to 2007 and again from 2008 to 2013 is also charged in Georgia with abuse of power relating to the closure of media organization and the violent crackdown of protestors during his time in office.
