Saakashvili and thousands of supporters call for snap parliament election in Ukraine

Record ID: 77209

  • Title: Saakashvili and thousands of supporters call for snap parliament election in Ukraine
  • Date: 27th November 2016
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SINGING UKRAINIAN ANTHEM SAAKASHVILI WAVING TO CROWD, LEAVING STAGE
  • Embargoed: 12th December 2016 15:09
  • Keywords: Ukraine Saakashvili rally protest corruption snap election
  • Location: KIEV, UKRAINE
  • City: KIEV, UKRAINE
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0025A7YLHJ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Several thousands of Kiev residents led by Mikheil Saakashvili gathered on Sunday (November 27) in the city centre demanding snap parliamentary election and cardinal reforms.
    In the first mass event by his newly-created 'New powers' movement the former Georgian president and former Odessa governor defined its political vector.
    "Our political objectives are - first - hard-line reforms, second - zero tolerance towards corruption, third - complete purge of the state apparatus, fourth - imprisoning of the thieves in power," he called from the stage, winning applause of his supporters.
    Saakashvili, who is widely credited with cracking down on graft when he led Georgia from 2004 till 2013, was appointed Odessa governor in May 2015 in a surprise move by President Petro Poroshenko.
    Saakashvili has since repeatedly accused the Kiev leadership of lacking a real commitment to reform and his political allies said this had made him a target of political infighting.
    When Saakashvili quit on Nov. 7 he said he planned to create a new Ukrainian political force without links to big business or established political factions, and that he would pressure the government for snap elections.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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