Saakashivili quits Ukraine job, lashes out at Poroshenko

Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili tendered his resignation as Governor of Ukraine’s southern Odessa region on 7 November 2016, accusing the country's president of cynically obstructing his attempts at reform and supporting corrupt clans.

Mr Saakashvili was appointed Odessa governor in May 2015. He has since repeatedly accused the central authorities of lacking a real commitment to reform and his political allies said this had made him a target of political infighting.

Mikhail Saakashvili announced on the 11 November 2016 that he planned to create a new opposition party in Ukraine, to fight corruption in Ukrainian politics and to try to bring about early elections.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Saakashvili in Odessa http://www.europeansources.info/record/saakashvili-in-odessa/

ESO: Background information: Odessa Oblast: Governor Saakashvili’s superficial changes http://www.europeansources.info/record/odessa-oblast-governor-saakashvilis-superficial-changes/

BBC News, 07.11.16: Georgian Saakashvili quits as Ukraine Odessa governor http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37895588

The Guardian, 07.11.16: Mikheil Saakashvili quits as governor of Ukraine's Odessa region https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/07/mikheil-saakashvili-quits-as-governor-of-ukraines-odessa-region

The Wall Street Journal, 07.11.16: Former Georgian President Saakashvili Resigns as Ukrainian Governor in Protest http://www.wsj.com/articles/former-georgian-president-saakashvili-resigns-as-ukrainian-governor-1478521359

Foreign Policy, 07.11.16: Saakashvili Steps Down http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/11/07/saakashvili-steps-down/

BBC News, 07.11.16: Will Mikheil Saakashvili bounce back? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37900773

Ukraine Today, 07.11.16: Saakashvili era in Odesa: TOP-10 promises examined http://uatoday.tv/politics/saakashvili-era-in-odesa-top-10-promises-examined-801314.html

Newsweek, 07.11.16: Ukraine Governor Mikheil Saakashvili Quits in Protest But Vows ‘New Stage of Fight’ http://europe.newsweek.com/mikheil-saakashvili-quits-ukraine-governor-vows-new-stage-fight-517827

Pravda, 07.11.16: Mikhail Saakashvili quits as Odessa governor http://www.pravdareport.com/news/world/ussr/ukraine/07-11-2016/136077-saakashvili_odessa-0/

Deutsche Welle, 07.11.16: Ex-Georgian president quits Ukraine post http://dw.com/p/2SHB9

Georgia Today, 07.11.16: Former Georgian President Saakashvili Resigns as Governor of Odessa http://georgiatoday.ge/news/5077/Former-Georgian-President-Saakashvili-Resigns-as-Governor-of-Odessa

Deutsche Welle, 11.11.16: Ex-Georgian leader Mikhail Saakashvili plans new party in Ukraine, wants early elections http://dw.com/p/2SaWn

Spiegel Online International, 18.08.17: Persona Non Grata Would-Be Reformer Saakashvili Cast Out of Ukraine http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/mikheil-saakashvili-fails-in-mission-to-reform-ukraine-a-1163344.html

BBC News, 27.07.17: Georgia ex-leader Saakashvili stripped of Ukraine's citizenship http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-40738193

Politico, 26.07.17: Ex-Georgia leader Saakashvili stripped of Ukrainian citizenship http://www.politico.eu/article/ex-georgia-leader-saakashvili-stripped-of-ukrainian-citizenship-poroshenko-odessa/

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