UKRAINE-CRISIS/SAAKASHVILI-ODESSA Ex-president of Georgia appointed governor of Ukraine's Odessa

Record ID: 149558

  • Title: UKRAINE-CRISIS/SAAKASHVILI-ODESSA Ex-president of Georgia appointed governor of Ukraine's Odessa
  • Date: 30th May 2015
  • Summary: ODESSA, UKRAINE (MAY 30, 2015) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** PEOPLE GATHERED OUTSIDE ODESSA REGIONAL STATE ADMINISTRATION TWO MEN TALKING, ONE OF THEM HOLDING FLAGS OF UKRAINE AND GEORGIA FLAGS OF UKRAINE AND GEORGIA POLICE OFFICER SECURING AREA SECURITY OFFICERS IN FRONT OF CARS UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT PETRO POROSHENKO ENTERING HALL OF ODESSA REGIONAL ST
  • Embargoed: 14th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA3113XHHTHYRM47FRQ9J3ISPOQ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Saturday (May 30) officially announced the appointment of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili as governor of southern Odessa region.
    Security was tight outside the regional state administration building early in the day, where Odessa residents had gathered to welcome the newly appointed governor.
    The 47 year old politician's appointment came hours after he was granted Ukrainian citizenship by Poroshenko in a special decree.
    Poroshenko, who highlighted he had known Saakashvili as early as their years at the Taras Shevchenko National University in Kiev, said the former Georgia president "loved" Ukraine.
    "I can say that Mikheil (Saakashvili) is firmly ready to support Ukraine because he loves it just as I love do," said Poroshenko at a ceremony in Odessa.
    Poroshenko went on to say the focus of the administration, under Saakashvili in the first year, would be increasing people's trust in government, getting rid of oligarchs, and introducing a "zero tolerance" policy to corruption.
    Saakashvili vowed to bring positive change in the region.
    "Many dream of vacationing in Odessa, but I did not come here to rest, I do not have time for this. We all will be... I will be, and I invite everyone to, work to give people the feeling that something is actually changing. Because everybody is fed up with talks, everybody needs changes. When they see it, they will believe it."
    Earlier in the year, Poroshenko appointed Saakashvili as head of Ukraine's Advisory International Council of Reforms, a consultative body that aims to put forward recommendations on the implementation of reforms in Ukraine.
    Saakashvili faces criminal charges in Georgia, brought forward by the prosecutor's office in 2014, for exceeding his authority while in office and other charges that relate to the use of force to break up a protest in the capital Tbilisi in November 2007 and to a raid on a television station.
    Saakashvili left the South Caucasus country of 4.5 million after his second presidency ended in November, 2013. Government opposition in Georgia claim charges against the former president are a political witch-hunt by the ex-Soviet republic's new leaders.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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