Georgia’s ex President Mikheil Saakashvili resigned as governor of Ukraine’s Odessa region after accusing Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko of supporting “corrupt and criminal clans” in the region.

“I decided to resign and begin a new stage of struggle,” Saakashvili said on November 7 and added that he would continue his fight against corruption.

“I believe that there are a lot of new, vigorous, young forces in Ukraine… We will definitely unite and complete this struggle with Ukraine’s victory,” he said.  

President Poroshenko appointed Saakashvili as head of Odessa region on May 30, 2015 after granting Ukrainian citizenship to him a day earlier. Last December Saakashvili, who is wanted by Georgia on number of criminal charges, which he denies as politically motivated, lost his Georgian citizenship.  

Shortly before Saakashvili’s statement, chief of police in Odessa region, Gia Lortkipanidze, who is former deputy interior minister of Georgia, also announced about resignation.