Ukraine seems to have completely forgotten about Donbass today. Breaking news was the return of Mikhail Saakashvili, the former Odessa governor and Georgian ex-president. Stripped of Ukrainian citizenship, Saakashvili forced his way in the country through a checkpoint thanks to what he called 'the colossal support of the people'. But the apparent passivity of the Ukrainian security service indicates that the ex-governor won the support of quite different circles. Our observer Denis Davydov will speculate on what Saakashvili's second advent might bring to Ukraine and president Poroshenko.
Crossing the border of any legal state illegally is a crime, and only in Ukraine it is a show. Dozens of TV cameras, cheerleaders from parliament. This is how Saakashvili broke into the country. The purpose of his visit was not specified, but, in general, it is clear: he is against Poroshenko. There won't be this president, there won't be this government. We must look into each other's eyes. We will always be in Ukraine. It's a rather bold statement for a man without a passport. This summer Saakashvili was stripped of citizenship. He has no ID documents. It took him a long time to approach the Ukrainian border, and now the help came. Hundreds of strong young people break through the border cordon to literally drag the Georgian into Ukraine. Shoot! The scenario when they wouldn't allow anyone and it all would be very tough didn't take place.
The authorities once again demonstrated their administrative and law enforcement weakness. He is proud of having been carried into the country in people's arms, though, apparently, he was led by his arms. Actually, it doesn't matter, Poroshenko seems to have understood the hint. Let's leave politics to the politicians and the violation of law to the law enforcement bodies. He will break into Georgia with the same zeal as it was while breaking into Ukraine. Saakashvili is everywhere accompanied by SSU ex-leader Valentin Nalyvaichenko and leader of the Fatherland party Yulia Tymoshenko. As if she hadn't publicly mocked in 2008 at the then Georgian president chewing his tie out of fear.
All grievances must have been forgotten, for good reason. She has recently flown to the USA for consultation for a reason. Seemingly, it all was decided there. And Mikhail Saakashvili, fugitive Georgian president, was chosen as a battering ram to sweep away the incumbent authorities. Law enforcement passivity is understandable too. Journalists learned about a secret meeting of Yulia Tymoshenko and head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov. They discussed Saakashvili's upcoming visit. But in fact Avakov and Saakashvili didn't get along from the first days. We all remember the government meeting when a glass of water was thrown. Today Avakov ordered Saakashvili to appear in the migration service, but the latter was walking around Lvov, yesterday he was accompanied by mayor Andrey Sadovyi, today he spoke before the cameras near the hotel. I want to reassure everyone. Yesterday I went through the Polish cordon with a legal Ukrainian document, which was stamped by the Poles. I came to the Ukrainians, they said: "We will not take your passport" I replied: "Then here's my protection statement".
"We won't accept your statement" Protection statement is an insurance that the restless politician wants to bargain for himself. Georgia, where Saakashvili is wanted, asks Ukraine for the extradition of its former president. It's difficult to predict if Poroshenko will take such a step. Political scientists suggest that Odessa ex-governor will be happy with a refugee status. Now it's all about how Poroshenko will act. If he grants Saakashvili the refugee status, the latter can't be extradited. But by granting the refugee status, he makes it difficult for Saakashvili to be engaged in Ukrainian politics. It's a tangled situation. Poroshenko can solve this puzzle in his usual manner, using the aggravation of the situation in the southeast as a deception maneuver. The army aviation is already concentrating in the region. And in the meantime Mikhail Saakashvili is leaving Lvov for Kiev. Denis Davydov, Vyacheslav Olenov and Vsevolod Sychev for Vesti.
