Development of Odesa to influence Russia - Saakashvili

The development of Odesa city and the region would change not only the political moods in the region, but also in Russia, Head of Odesa Regional Administration and former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.

"Odesa in the thoughts of many Russians, including those who have empire moods, is taken as a part of their historic heritage, Russian soul, "Russian world," and these Russians are sensitive to everything that is happening in Odesa. If they see the success of Odesa residents, if they see how the region starts developing, this will have a large impact on Russia. Russians are afraid of this," he said on the Fifth TV Channel on Wednesday.

"Russians are proud of Odesa as part of their past. If there is new present with the blue and yellow flag here, this will be another reality. Russia does not want to allow this. From this point of view the decision of President Poroshenko was strategic, not simply economic – we should show Odesa which is not a milking cow as it was taken earlier, but which could be a sound foundation for new national identity of Ukraine and a powerful incentive for the further development," he added.