Dumb move: Georgia not happy Kiev appointed Georgian fugitives to govt positions

© AP/ Markus Schreiber

Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili

The appointment to the Ukrainian government of fugitives from Georgia, searched by Interpol, could harm relations between the two countries, said Saturday Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili.

He said he personally informed the President Piotr Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk that this practice would affect relations between Tbilisi and Kiev.

"I cannot explain to the people of Georgia why Zurab Adeishvili [former Justice Minister] who is the subject of an Interpol Red Notice could be appointed to a position in the Ukrainian government with which we have friendly relationship. It was one of the main representatives of the criminal regime that sentenced 300,000 people. This also applies to Eka Zgouladze, assistant of Vano Merabishvili [Minister of the Interior from 2005 to 2012], which has worked over many years to exonerate the regime in power in Georgia," said Irakli Garibashvili.

Zurab Adeishvili is the subject of an international search warrant issued by Interpol at the request of the Georgian authorities who accuse him of abuse of power, abuse of detainees in Georgian prisons and falsifying evidence.

According to Ukrainian media, the authorities of the country are considering him to fill the position as chairman of the Ukrainian Council for the fight against corruption.

The Oceania Saker