Georgia ex-leader Saakashvili gives up citizenship for Ukraine

Georgian ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili says he is giving up Georgian citizenship as he becomes governor of Ukraine’s Odessa region.

Mr Saakashvili told the BBC a Georgian passport meant “guaranteed imprisonment” there as the authorities pursued criminal charges against him.
The ex-leader was appointed unexpectedly by Ukrainian President Petr Poroshenko on Saturday.
He is credited with radical reforms in Georgia but accused of abuse of power.

Mr Saakashvili left Georgia after his term as president ended in 2013. He denies the charges against him, which he says are politically motivated.
The former president, who has been granted Ukrainian citizenship, speaks basic Ukrainian and was recently said to have sung the national anthem with a group of Odessa schoolchildren.