Linkevicius describes situation with Saakashvili as internal affair of Ukraine

The opening of criminal proceedings against former head of Odesa Regional State Administration Mikheil Saakashvili is an internal affair of Ukraine.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said this before a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

He said that the current situation in Ukraine is "very painful," and the fight against corruption is a difficult challenge for the state.

"As for Saakashvili, this is an internal affair of Ukraine," Linkevicius said.

He expressed hope that this case would be resolved in the legal plane.

As reported, law enforcement officers detained Saakashvili in Kyiv on December 8. He was charged with assisting members of criminal organizations and concealing their criminal activity (Part 2, Article 256 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

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