Georgia Slams Ukraine for Requesting Return of Ambassador Over Saakashvili Health
Introduction
Georgia’s Foreign Ministry has voiced its disapproval of Ukraine’s request for the Georgian Ambassador to return to Tbilisi due to the condition of former president Mikheil Saakashvili, who is also a Ukrainian citizen.
Georgia-Ukraine Conflict
With tensions between Georgia and Ukraine already running high, Georgia’s Foreign Ministry has criticized Ukraine for asking its ambassador to return to Tbilisi for consultations regarding the former Georgian President, and current Ukrainian citizen, Mikheil Saakashvili’s health. Saakashvili has been serving a three-year prison sentence in Georgia since February 2019 for abuse of power.
Saakashvili’s Detainment
After several years in political exile, Saakashvili was detained in May 2018 in Ukraine for illegally crossing the Ukrainian border. Shortly after, he was deported to Poland and later extradited to Georgia, where he faced charges of mishandling government funds during his time in office from 2004 to 2013. In February 2019, Saakashvili was sentenced to serve three years in jail, a sentence which he claimed was politically motivated.
Conclusion
Although no resolution has been reached yet, Georgia’s Foreign Ministry has recently requested that the Georgian Ambassador return to Tbilisi due to Saakashvili’s deteriorating health.