Mikheil Saakashvili returned to Ukraine

The former governor of the Odessa region, ex-president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili returned to Ukraine, where he was banned from entering in 2018 by decision of the authorities.

Saakashvili landed at Boryspil airport, where he flew from Warsaw. At the exit, he was met by journalists and dozens of supporters with the flags of Ukraine and a loaf.

The return of Saakashvili to Ukraine became possible after President Volodymyr Zelensky, by his decree, returned Ukrainian citizenship to Saakashvili, which was deprived of him by the former head of state Petro Poroshenko.

In 2017, the politician was accused of collaborating with criminal groups, as well as that he allegedly received money from Russia to finance protests in order to overthrow the government in Ukraine. In 2018, the authorities expelled Saakashvili from Ukraine to Poland and banned him from entering the country until 2021.

Speaking about plans for the future, Saakashvili said that he wants to help the Zelensky team, but so far he is cautious about offers to take this or that official post.

“If my advice, my consultation or just being present is useful to someone or somewhere, then I will do it. But I certainly do not aspire to get some kind of office or some kind of formal function, because it ends badly. I experienced it myself,” he said.

At the same time, Saakashvili's party "Movement of New Forces" has already announced plans to participate in early elections to the Verkhovna Rada, which will be held on July 21.