You're reading: Tbilisi says Saakashvili appointment as Odesa governor to not harm Georgia-Ukraine relations

TBILISI - The Georgian Foreign Ministry said the appointment of Mikheil Saakashvili, former president of Georgia, to the post of governor of Odesa region, will not have a negative impact on the relations between Georgia and Ukraine.

“I want to say once again, which we have mentioned before, that, despite the sovereign decision made by the Ukrainian administration, which we may like or not, will not negatively impact the relations between our countries over the appointment of Saakashvili,” Georgian Foreign Ministry official David Kereselidze told a briefing on June 1.

“We are guided by state interests and the traditional historical friendship and partnership,” he said.

Kereselidze said Ukraine is now in a difficult situation and “it needs support.” “Georgia and the Georgian administration are always ready to support Ukraine,” he said.

On Saturday, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko granted his adviser Mikheil Saakashvili Ukrainian citizenship and appointed him as head of Odesa Regional Administration.

Saakashvili is wanted in Georgia in connection with several criminal cases, specifically those involving abuse of power.