Ukrainian foreign ministry says not in talks with Georgia over Saakashvili extradition

KIEV, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry does not hold talks with Georgian authorities over the possible extradition of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, a senior ministry's official said on Friday.

"The foreign ministry is definitely not holding any negotiations. Georgia is in my competence, but there were no contacts through the foreign ministry," Vasyl Bodnar, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister, told a media briefing in Kiev.

On Thursday, several Georgian and Ukrainian media outlets have reported that Kiev and Tbilisi are in talks about the extradition of Saakashvili, who is wanted in Georgia on charges of corruption, abuse of power and embezzlement.

Saakashvili, 49, served two terms as Georgian president from 2004 to 2013. He was granted Ukrainian citizenship in May 2015 and appointed governor of Odessa. On July 26, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko revoked Saakashvili's Ukrainian citizenship for allegedly submitting false information while applying for a Ukrainian passport.

In September, the Georgian Chief Prosecutor's Office asked Kiev to take measures for Saakashvili's extradition, but Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yury Lutsenko said Ukraine is not considering such option.

Saakashvili, now a leader of the Ukrainian political party "Movement of New Forces," also faces investigation in Ukraine on charges of "aiding members of criminal groups and covering up their criminal activity." Enditem