Page 21 - bne_newspaper_July_28_2017

Opinion
July 28, 2017 www.intellinews.com I Page 21
KRUK REPORT:
Saakashvili is stripped of Ukrainian citizenship as Poroshenko’s re-election campaign gets underway
Kateryna Kruk in Kyiv
Mid-summer is always characterised by low politi- cal activity and low interest in politics. Both the electors and those elected take a summer break. That is why the news of former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili being stripped of his Ukrain- ian citizenship felt so sudden and out of nowhere. One thing is sure: Ukrainian President Petro Po- roshenko’s team didn't take a summer break, it is already working hard on getting ready for the 2019 presidential elections.
The decision to revoke Saakashvili's citizenship came shortly after the first state visit Poroshenko made to Georgia earlier this month. It is quite possible that Saakashvili’s fate was discussed during meetings between Ukrainian and Georgian officials.
Saakashvili, a Georgian hurricane, managed to gather around him a team of professionals and prominent thinkers who pushed for bold reforms in post-revolutionary Georgia. Even though in the post-Soviet space Georgia is perceived as
a success story, back home Saakashvili left his office under a cloud and with a very low approval rate. Moreover, the former president is now wanted in Georgia, where he has been accused of corruption, on criminal charges related to his activities during his presidency. In the official Ukrainian State Migration Service statement on Saakashvili’s case, the Georgian investigation is also mentioned.
According to the statement, the migration service has studied documents prepared by the Geor- gian Prosecutor General Office (PGO), which were forwarded from the Ukrainian PGO. Since there are no other reasons in the statement for grounds to strip Saakashvili of his Ukraine citizenship, it looks like Ukraine is simply following a request made by Georgian officials. But there is much more to it than that. While I can’t say if Saakash- vili’s investigation in Georgia is political revenge or not, as he himself claims, it is undeniable that the decision to revoke his Ukrainian citizenship is politically motivated.
Saakashvili was invited to Ukraine after the Maid- an revolution by the newly elected Poroshenko. Soon after, Saakashvili was granted Ukrainian citizenship and appointed governor of the Odesa region. Saakashvili, a true political animal, quickly started building his popularity among Ukrainians. Known for his unconventional decisions and a flare for PR, the Odesa governor with time be- came one of Ukraine’s most influential politicians. There was another important role for Saakashvili in Ukraine: he became a sort of magnet for young Ukrainian politicians and liberal parties who were naturally charmed by his charisma, political drive and energy. Undoubtedly, Saakashvili has inspired (and, I believe, still does) the younger generation of Ukrainian politicians.
Just as his position in Ukrainian politics was