Return of the symbol

If the Russian TV presenter is chopped off, then he will talk about Ukraine for another three hours. This rude joke from the Internet proved her justice on the day of arrival in Kyiv Mikhail Saakashvili. The surname of the former Georgian president did not sound only from the iron. Russian masters of television propaganda, who are afraid to carry the newly elected President Vladimir Zelensky, joyfully accused him of Russophobia, authoritarianism and the fulfillment of the tasks of the “Washington regional committee”, reminded of the war of 2008 and of course about chewing a tie. In fairness, we note that the triumphal return of Saakashvili caused frank irritation not only in Moscow, but also in Tbilisi. Representatives of the Georgian elite immediately expressed fear that his stay in Ukraine could damage relations with Georgia. The new Ukrainian leader was condemned not to appoint Saakashvili for any significant post. Moreover, it was even proposed to send a request for extradition to Kyiv - the former president was convicted in his homeland for two criminal cases.

I must say that Ukrainian politicians without much delight reacted to the decision of Vladimir Zelensky on the return of Saakashvili Ukrainian citizenship. His second coming clearly complicates the already extremely confusing internal political situation. A variety of assumptions are built on what the returned Saakashvili will do. Everyone wonders what role his party “The movement of new forces” in the elections in July will play. The fact that former President Petro Poroshenko and his party will be mercilessly criticized is not in doubt. It is possible that the “movement of new forces” will be a spoiler for parties - Opponents of Zelensky. Finally, knowing about the disgusting relations of Saakashvili with oligarch Kolomoisky and the Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov, numerous analysts suggest that, having returned the former Georgian leader, Zelensky wants to get rid of the influence of those who supported him during the presidential race.

I do not presume to judge how all these theories correspond to the real state of affairs. In the end, it does not matter much now. In the early days of his presidency, Vladimir Zelensky does not yet have serious tools for the formation and conduct of a clear course. He still has to provide himself with support in the future Rada, to form a responsible government. Now he is doomed to make symbolic gestures. And they get them. What is the call to officials not to hang his portraits in the offices. And the retention of Saakashvili Ukrainian citizenship is in the same row. Saakashvili, with all its inconsistency and ambiguity, is a symbol of corruption for the post -Soviet space. Moreover, that for this space an unprecedented thing is an extremely successful struggle. Even Saakashvili's ill -wishers are forced to admit: he managed to implement extremely successful reforms.

He eliminated corruption where, it seemed, it was impossible to get out of it - in a law enforcement system. Transparent police areas built of glass panels, where there is simply nowhere to hide to get a bribe, several minutes to get any certificate, destroy the Blat system upon admission to universities - all these are the results achieved in extremely short time. Add quite successful economic reforms. Saakashvili and his assistants were remembered by their “non -systemicity”, the ability to destroy the established clan ties. However, life without corruption, this familiar lubrication for the gears of state institutions, turned out to be difficult for the fellow citizens of Saakashvili, who wished the traditional state and, in the end, expelled it from the country.

There is no doubt that corruption is one of the main, if not the most important problem of Ukraine. The bureaucracy of this country, as they say, was bought by the opposing oligarchic clans at the root. Any reforms (which inevitably touched the interests of a particular oligarch) successfully failed. How the crusades against corruption itself failed and repeatedly declared and repeatedly declared. And then a man returned to the country who, even if he was defeated in this struggle when he was the Odessa governor, but at least won several battles. Zelensky, returning Saakashvili, made another important gesture. And, judging by the reaction, the establishment scared a lot not only in Ukraine, but in the entire post -Soviet space. After all, if this time it turns out where to go to all these extortionists and bribe takers, the jugs of the post -Soviet statehood?

Photo: 1. Ukraine. Kyiv region. Former President of Georgia and ex-head of the Odessa region Mikhail Saakashvili (in the center) during a meeting at Borispol Airport. Saakashvili flew in a flight from Warsaw, where he was deported in February 2018 in connection with deprivation of citizenship. On May 28, 2019, the President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky canceled the decree of the previous head of state Petro Poroshenko on the deprivation of citizenship of Mikhail Saakashvili. Pavlo Gonchar/Sopa Images Via Zuma Wire/TASS
2. Ukraine. Kyiv region. 05/29/2019. EPA/sergey Dolzhenko/TASS