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Ex-Georgian leader appointed Odessa region governor

Saakashvili has been granted the Ukrainian citizenship

© © AP Photo/Mykola Lazarenko

KIEV, May 30. /TASS/. Former Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has been appointed as the governor of Ukraine’s southern Odessa region, President Pyotr Poroshenko said on Saturday.

"Today I will present a new governor to you, he is an old friend of this country. I have known him for already more than 20 years. The name of this person is Mikhail Saakashvili," the president said.

Saakashvili has been granted the Ukrainian citizenship.

Saakashvili was the president of Georgia for two consecutive terms from January 2004 to November 2013. In his home country, Saakashvili is accused of embezzling state funds. In September, the property of the ex-president and his family members was arrested. Saakashvili’s personal bank accounts in Georgia were also arrested.

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Ukraine crisis Eastern Ukraine

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