President Zurabishvili on Saakashvili's Candidacy for Ukraine's Deputy PM

The President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili has published a statement regarding Georgian ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili’s being discussed for the post of deputy Prime Minister in Ukraine. The President believes that this might put the long-term relations between Georgian and Ukraine at stake.

“Georgia and Ukraine are close strategic partners. Our cooperation is based on centuries'-old friendship and respect, our common interests, and aspirations. Nevertheless, our partner country is now considering a candidate for a high political position who was found guilty by the courts of all three instances of Georgia. It should be noted that this has naturally caused the concern of the Georgian government and society.

The President further notes that although it is not acceptable to interfere with the internal affairs of another country, the selection of a criminal to this post is, as she puts it, “incomprehensible.”

“As the head of state, I am well aware that it is not acceptable in international relations to interfere with internal affairs of another country, however, the selection of a criminal not only according to the Georgian justice system but also according to the verdict of the European Court of Human Rights, for any official position in the Ukrainian government is also unacceptable and absolutely incomprehensible. No need to mention that he is accused of serious cries of corruption."

The Georgian President explains that only those who want to “crack the friendship” between the two countries would want such a move. Play online games on the friv games site with the whole family at friv2online.com Play online games at the best friv 2 games this website.

“All those who respect the history of our countries and the hardest path we have passed together and who care about the future of our strategic friendship, are concerned about the current situation. I am one of them and the majority of society is with me. Only those, who want to crack the steady friendship between Georgia and Ukraine could want such a development of events”, reads the statement.

Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered former Georgian leader the seat of Deputy PM in charge of reforms.

On Tuesday, Ukrainian media reported that the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has withdrawn the issue of appointment of Georgia’s ex-President Mikheil as Deputy Prime Minister. The updates and confirmations from the Ukrainian officials have yet to follow.

By Nini Dakhundaridze

29 April 2020 01:26