Georgian ex-president says Ukraine preparing his extradition

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Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili on Monday said that the Ukrainian authorities were preparing his extradition to Georgia.

"The Ukrainian authorities want to reject my request for 'temporary protection' status, paving the way for my expulsion from the country," Saakashvili wrote on Facebook.

Earlier this month, several Georgian and Ukrainian media outlets had reported that Kiev and Tbilisi were in talks about the extradition of Saakashvili, who is wanted in Georgia on charges of corruption, abuse of power and embezzlement.

Georgian former President Mikheil Saakashvili is detained by officers of the Security Service of Ukraine, conducting a search of his apartment, in Kiev, Ukraine December 5, 2017. /Reuters Photo‍

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said it is not discussing the possible extradition with the Georgian side.

Saakashvili, 50, served two terms as Georgian president from 2004 to 2013. He was granted Ukrainian citizenship in May 2015 and appointed the governor of Odessa.

On July 26, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko revoked Saakashvili's Ukrainian citizenship for allegedly submitting false information while applying for a Ukrainian passport.

In September, the Georgian Chief Prosecutor's Office asked Kiev to take measures for Saakashvili's extradition, but Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yury Lutsenko said Ukraine is not considering such option.

Saakashvili, now a leader of the Ukrainian political party "Movement of New Forces," also faces investigation in Ukraine on charges of "aiding members of criminal groups and covering up their criminal activity."

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency