Georgia recalls Ukraine envoy after Saakashvili appointmentMay 8, 2020 - 20:12 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Georgia has recalled its ambassador to Ukraine for consultations after Georgia's former President Mikheil Saakashvili was appointed as a chairman of the Ukrainian Executive Reform Committee, the foreign minister said. "Georgia's strategic partner's decision to appoint a person, who is convicted by Georgian courts and prosecuted, raises questions," David Zalkaliani told reporters on Friday, May 8, according to Al Jazeera. He said the decision did not mean breaking diplomatic relations between the two countries. In 2018, Georgia convicted Saakashvili of abuse of power and seeking to cover up evidence about the 2005 beating of an opposition member of parliament when he was president - charges the former leader dismissed as politically motivated. Saakashvili also has a troubled history with Ukraine. He was appointed on Thursday to the senior role on the body chaired by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The move marked another political comeback for one of the post-Soviet world's most recognisable politicians, although it was not immediately clear how much influence Saakashvili would be able to exert over Zelenskyy's administration. He joins as Ukraine faces a recession caused by a nationwide lockdown to contain the coronavirus pandemic, and as the government tries to secure aid from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that is contingent on Kyiv's reform performance. According to a decree published by Zelenskyy's office, Saakashvili will head an executive committee at the National Reform Council. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Russia warns Armenia against “falling into West’s trap” Zakharova maintained, however, that anything that will benefit the people of Armenia can only be welcomed. CSTO: Armenia has not participated in secretariat’s work recently Recently Armenia has not participated in the work of the secretariat of the CSTO, Imangali Tasmagambetov said. Meeting with U.S., EU not against third parties, says Armenia The meeting scheduled for April 5 is dedicated to strengthening of the Armenia-EU-US cooperation, Yerevan added. Ucom launches network modernization efforts in few regions of Armenia In particular, on March 28, the legacy Mobile Switching Subsystem will be replaced with a new one. |