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Kiev (dpa) - The Ukrainian migration service has rejected former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's application for refugee status for the second time.
He does not face political persecution, torture or the death penalty in his native Georgia, the government-friendly broadcaster Espresso TV reported, citing official documentation from the relevant authorities.
He can appeal the decision to reject his reapplication for asylum, which Espresso TV said he had only submitted the previous day.
Saakashvili's bid for asylum was initially rejected on October 24, leaving him stateless. Georgia, which has an ongoing corruption and abuse of power investigation into him, had already revoked his Georgian citizenship.
Saakashvili formerly served as governor of Ukraine's Odessa region, but fell out of favour because of his ongoing campaign against corruption in the Ukrainian establishment.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko revoked Saakashvili's foreign residency permit, which he had been granted in 2015, when he was out of the country in July.
He managed to re-enter Ukraine in September despite a blockade designed to keep him out - amidst a brawl between his supporters and border staff.
Since mid-October Saakashvili has teamed up with opposition politicians to call for reforms and to criticize Poroshenko.
For several weeks, protesters demanding an end to corruption in Ukraine have been camped outside the parliament building in Kiev. They are demanding reform to electoral law and anti-corruption courts, amongst others.
He does not face political persecution, torture or the death penalty in his native Georgia, the government-friendly broadcaster Espresso TV reported, citing official documentation from the relevant authorities.
He can appeal the decision to reject his reapplication for asylum, which Espresso TV said he had only submitted the previous day.
Saakashvili's bid for asylum was initially rejected on October 24, leaving him stateless. Georgia, which has an ongoing corruption and abuse of power investigation into him, had already revoked his Georgian citizenship.
Saakashvili formerly served as governor of Ukraine's Odessa region, but fell out of favour because of his ongoing campaign against corruption in the Ukrainian establishment.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko revoked Saakashvili's foreign residency permit, which he had been granted in 2015, when he was out of the country in July.
He managed to re-enter Ukraine in September despite a blockade designed to keep him out - amidst a brawl between his supporters and border staff.
Since mid-October Saakashvili has teamed up with opposition politicians to call for reforms and to criticize Poroshenko.
For several weeks, protesters demanding an end to corruption in Ukraine have been camped outside the parliament building in Kiev. They are demanding reform to electoral law and anti-corruption courts, amongst others.
