This alert discusses the Ukrainian government’s appointment of former Georgian president, Mikheil Saakashvili as governor of the city of Odessa. More specifically, the author examines 1) the strategic importance of Odessa to Ukraine as well as the problems the city has concerning corruption; 2) the controversy surrounding the appointment of a non-Ukrainian to this position; 3) the reforms which Saakashvili has already undertaken; and 4) what factors may constrain his future reform measures. …read more