Georgian Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze sent a letter to his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Razumkov providing reasons why Georgian ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili should not be appointed the new Ukrainian vice PM for reforms.
Speaker Talakvadze said Georgian courts have found Mikheil Saakashvili guilty of a number of serious criminal charges in absentia.
Mr. Saakashvili is politically responsible for the systemic failures of human rights under his administration, the abuse of power, the restriction of media freedom, the violation of property rights, and the threat of free elections.
Therefore, Talakvadze said, Saakashvili’s possible appointment in the Ukrainian government will affect the trust between Georgia and Ukraine and their institutions.
His possible appointment will cast a shadow over political cooperation between our governments and our joint efforts. We have many common challenges and goals on the path to restoration of territorial integrity, as well as EU and NATO integration”, Talakvadze wrote to Razumkov.
Yesterday, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia that the possible appointment of Saakashvili in Ukraine is ‘absolutely unacceptable.’
Saakashvili was offered the position by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Ukrainian parliament will vote on his candidacy next week.