Georgia's ex-president takes over Ukraine's Odessa region

(Vatican Radio) Georgia's pro-Western former president is giving up his Georgian citizenship as he has become governor of Ukraine's crucial Odessa region as part of Kiev's efforts to prevent more instability in the war-torn nation. Mikheil Saakashvili's announcement comes while tensions mount between the U.S. and the Russian military.

Listen to Stefan Bos’ report:

As government forces and pro-Russian separatists clash in the east, Kiev wants to ensure the conflict isn't spreading towards other areas in Ukraine.

Georgia's former president Saakashvili says that he has become governor of Odessa as it is a "frontline" against local corruption and what he views as Russian aggression.

"Odessa is also closely related to the situation in Georgia. We think what what unites Odessa and Georgia [is this]: If Odessa ever falls, God forbid, then Georgia might be wiped out of the map. That's so obvious if you look carefully at the geo-politics of the region," he added.    

Kiev also seems to hope that Saakashvili can help to improve the economic situation as the International Monetary Fund has warned Ukraine's economy is likely to shrink by a worse-then-expected nine percent this year.

GEORGIAN CITIZENSHIP

Yet, Saakashvili, who speaks basic Ukrainian, acknowledged that he had to give up his Georgian citizenship as authorities want to prosecute him over what he claims are trumped up charges of abuse of power.       

"The present Georgian government has pursued these criminal charges against me that look ridiculous for the rest of the world," said the former president, who was granted Ukrainian citizenship.

"The reality is that for me today that the Georgian passport means guaranteed imprisonment for me in Georgia, which is a very temporary situation but that is the situation what I have to face now," he added. 

The appointment of the pro-Western leader comes while the West is trying to limit Russia's influence in the region. US-led drills of the NATO military alliance, involving 6,000 troops from 13 nations, have begun in the Baltic states and Poland.

Officials say it is aimed to reassure Russia's nervous neighbours who fear the conflict in Ukraine could spread. Yet is has also added to tensions between the U.S. and Russian military.

RUSSIAN WAR PLANE

The U.S. Navy has released video footage of an apparent Russian military plane passing as close as 500 meters over an American warship in the Black Sea within international waters.

Russian state media claim the USS Ross was acting "aggressively", charges Washington denies.

It remains unclear whether Europe can help ease tensions in the worst East-West confrontation since the Cold War:. A planned meeting between Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev and Russia's President Vladimir Putin to discuss Ukraine, has already been overshadowed by alleged Russian propaganda.

On the eve of the visit, Russian state television aired a documentary about the 1968-Soviet led invasion of what was Czechoslovakia, calling it an operation against a "NATO-backed armed coup".

The Czech Republic and Slovakia have accused Russia of rewriting history and say what was known as the 'Prague Spring' was a struggle for freedom.