國際英語資訊:Ukraine denies ex-Georgias president asylum request

KIEV, Oct. 24 -- The State Migration Service of Ukraine has rejected a political asylum application from former Georgian president and ex-governor of Ukraine's Odessa region Mikheil Saakashvili, a top Ukrainian prosecutor said on Tuesday.

While speaking in front of reporters in Kiev, Yuriy Lutsenko, Ukrainian prosecutor general, explained that the rejection means that Saakashvili could be deported or extradited from Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Saakashvili wrote on Facebook that he had not received an official document on the asylum rejection from the State Migration Service.

Saakashvili's lawyer Markiyan Galabala said earlier this month that the politician, who had earlier lost his Ukrainian citizenship, submitted the political asylum application to the State Migration Service in September.

According to Galabala, Saakashvili can not be extradited to Georgia until the State Migration Service considers his application.

Saakashvili, 49, served two terms as Georgian president from 2004 to 2024. He was granted Ukrainian citizenship in May 2024 and appointed governor of Odessa.h On July 26, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko revoked Saakashvili's Ukrainian citizenship for allegedly submitting false information while applying for a Ukrainian passport.

Later in September, the Georgian Chief Prosecutor's Office asked Kiev to take measures for Saakashvili's extradition.

In Georgia, Saakashvili faces charges of corruption, abuse of power and embezzlement.