Georgia Summons Ukrainian Ambassador After Saakashvili Appointed Poroshenko's Aide

Ukraine's ambassador to Georgia, Vasily Tsybenko, has been summoned by the country's Foreign Ministry following ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili's appointment as an aide to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, sputniknews.com reports.

"Tomorrow a briefing will take place in the ministry where this will be discussed," an official at the Georgian Foreign Ministry told RIA Novosti, saying that the ministry expects the ambassador to provide an explanation.

The exact date when the ambassador must appear at the ministry is unknown at this time. Local media report that Georgia's ambassador to Ukraine, Mikhail Ukleba, will also be present at the meeting.

Saakashvili left Georgia several days after the inauguration of the new president, Giorgi Margvelashvili, in November 2013. The Georgian Prosecutor General's Office accused Saakashvili in absentia of several criminal acts, including abuse of power and the misappropriation of public funds.

Ukraine's government previously appointed several former Georgian officials from the United National Movement party, once chaired by Saakashvili. Eka Zguladze became Deputy Internal Affairs Minister, while Alexander Kvtashvili became Ukraine's Minister of Healthcare.

February 16 2015, 11:37