Georgia Summons Ukrainian Ambassador over Controversial Appointment

Georgia summoned the Ukrainian ambassador to Tbilisi on Monday after the appointment of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili as an adviser to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

Saakashvili, who served as President of Georgia between 2008 and 2013, has been charged in absentia with abuse of office and organising an attack on a lawmaker, Radio Free Europe reports.

The Georgian Prosecutor General's Office called on Ukrainian authorities to cooperate and extradite wanted individuals, including Saakashvili, Kyiv Post reveals.

Poroshenko appointed Saakashvili as the head of the International Advisory Council on Reforms, which surprised Georgian authorities.

The spokesperson of the Georgian Foreign Ministry assured that Ukraine was strategic partner and the invitation of ambassador Vasyl Tsybenko should not be interpreted as worsening of relations.

Following his visit to the Foreign Ministry, Tsybenko said that President Poroshenko is convinced that the appointment of Saakashvili would not disrupt bilateral relations.

Meanwhile, it became clear that the visit of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili to Ukraine was still being arranged.