Georgian MP nominated for top prosecution role in Ukraine

Georgian Parliament Member David Sakvarelidze, who represents opposition party United National Movement, has been nominated as the new Deputy General Prosecutor of Ukraine.

But before he is officially appointed to the role, Sakvarelidze must be approved by the Parliament of Ukraine. It is not known when this will happen but it is expected to be soon.

Information released by Ukrainian media stated Sakvarelidze has already been introduced to his new role by the General Prosecutor of Ukraine Viktor Shokin.

Reportedly, Sakvarelidze will chair the fields of European integration, the reformation of the country’s prosecution and formation of its staff.

Sakvarelidze, who is a current Member of Georgia’s Parliament, served as the Chief Prosecutor of Tbilisi from 2009-2010 and as Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Georgia from 2010 to 2012.

It is unknown if or when Sakvarelidze will leave for his new position in Ukraine. But once he does he will be replaced in Parliament by UNM member Eka Kherkheulidze.

Meanwhile this is not the first time a Georgian former official has been appointed a top role in the Ukrainian government.

On February 12 Georgia’s former president Mikheil Saakashvili, who is wanted in his home country, was appointed as a non-staff adviser of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and as chairman of the country’s Advisory International Council of Reforms.

In addition, six other former Georgian officials, including ex-Health Minister Aleksandre Kvitashvili and ex-Deputy Interior Minister Eka Zguladze, have recently been appointed different positions in Ukraine.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili commented on the frequent appointments of Georgian officials in top Ukrainian positions in an interview with German newspaper Die Welt several days ago.

"I would never advise my Ukrainian friends to invite our former Health Minister Aleksandre Kvitashvili to the government. Together with our former president, he destroyed Georgia’s healthcare system.”

"And former Justice Minister Zurab Adeishvili, who is currently working in Ukraine, is internationally wanted. Ex-Deputy Interior Minister Eka Zguladze was the face of the Ministry when people were being tortured here. However, this is the choice of the Ukrainian people. I don’t want them one day to be disappointed,” Garibashvili noted.

On another note, Ukrainian Ambassador to Georgia Vasyl Tsybenko visited the Georgian Foreign Ministry yesterday and discussed the latest appointment with Georgian officials.