Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Saakashvili Resigns as Governor of Ukraine's Odessa Region

by Reuters

   KYIV --

   Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili tendered his resignation
   as governor of Ukraine's southern Odessa region on Monday, accusing
   highly-placed officials in Kyiv of obstructing his attempts at reform.

   Saakashvili, who is widely credited with cracking down on graft when he
   was president of Georgia from 2004-2013, was appointed Odessa governor
   in May 2015 by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

   Saakashvili has since repeatedly accused the Kyiv leadership of lacking
   a real commitment to reform.

   Vowing to continue to fight corruption which he said went to the very
   top of Ukraine's establishment, he told journalists: "I have decided to
   tender my resignation and start a new stage of the fight. I am not
   giving up."

   In a clear rebuke of Poroshenko, he said: "In reality, in Odessa
   region, the President personally supports two clans."

   He said the work of reform-minded public officials had been repeatedly
   thwarted by higher authorities in Kiev interested in preserving the
   status quo.