CIVIL GEORGIA
Ukrainian Security Service Detains Mikheil Saakashvili
Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili was detained by the Ukrainian Security Service.
Saakashvili, who leads the Movement of New Forces party in Ukraine, was apprehended in his flat in Kyiv.
Davit Sakvarelidze, one of ex-President’s close associates, wrote in his Facebook post early morning today that security officers were trying to break into Saakashvili’s house.
Live video footages from the scene showed heavy police presence in and around the building, with Saakashvili addressing his supporters from the rooftop and calling on them to mobilize outside the building. Later footages, however, showed him forced downstairs and pushed into a police van.
Activists who gathered outside the building blocked the road and confronted the security officers.
The police van with Saakashvili inside is presently surrounded by security officers and blocked by his supporters.
Freed from Custody, Saakashvili Pledges ‘to Put an End’ to Georgian, Ukrainian Oligarchs
Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, who was detained by the Ukrainian Security Service earlier today, was released from temporary custody by his supporters.
Saakashvili, who leads the Movement of New Forces party in Ukraine, was apprehended in his flat in Kyiv early morning on December 5 on charges of assisting criminal groups and covering up their activities, but ex-President’s activists who gathered outside the building surrounded the police minivan and hindered it from moving forward.
The confrontation between the activists and the security service officers continued for almost four hours, with Saakashvili’s supporters overwhelming the resistance and forcefully releasing him from detention.
Escorted by his supporters, Saakashvili then walked to the Ukrainian Rada, where he addressed an impromptu rally.
The former President spoke to the Tbilisi-based Rustavi 2 TV before the rally, thanking his family and supporters and pledging to put an end to “all oligarchs, all robbers and oppressors of the people both in Ukraine and Georgia.”
“These losers do not know who they are dealing with, I was born for victory together with the Georgian and the Ukrainian peoples. Look at how the Ukrainians supported me [today], look at their unimaginable heroism: they have confronted the national guard of Ukraine unarmed, the President’s personal guard, which detained me together with the security service,” Saakashvili noted.
In his remarks for the press, Saakashvili urged the residents of Kyiv to gather at the Ukrainian Rada and demand the resignation of the General prosecutor and the Security Service leadership. He also called for launching procedures for impeaching President Petro Poroshenko and his team.
“Either we unite now and peacefully avoid the revolution, through the Parliament, as it happened in 2004, when the Parliament made several important decisions… either we gather and force them to leave in peaceful manner, or they will separately crush us,” he said.
Saakashvili also spoke on charges brought against him, saying the accusations were “fake” in order to “get rid of a loud voice that is challenging” the authorities.
According to the Ukrainian Security Service, Mikheil Saakashvili was detained and charged under Article 256 § 1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – assistance to members of criminal organizations and covering up of their criminal activity, which is punishable by imprisonment for a term of three to five years.
In Quotes: Georgian Politicians on Mikheil Saakashvili’s Detention
Below is a compilation of some of the reactions from Georgian politicians on the detention of ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili in Kyiv.
Giorgi Margvelashvili, President of Georgia:
“The ongoing processes in Kyiv are the internal affairs of Ukraine; at the same time, in the center of the events is the former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili, whose security we hope will be ensured.”
Irakli Kobakhidze, Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia:
“This [specific] case will be addressed by relevant agencies, the Georgian side will, naturally, also be involved in addressing this issue. The important thing is to deal with it in legal terms. Saakashvili is no longer viable in Georgia from the political point of view. It is not important what suits and what does not suit us. We have established the rule of law, where law stands above politics; so, this issue should be solved exactly in this context.”
Kakha Kaladze, Mayor of Tbilisi:
“We have heard statements that respective institutions of Ukraine have concrete questions to Mikheil Saakashvili. You are aware that he is not a citizen of Georgia, but there are certain questions about him in Georgia [as well]. He has been charged in connection with some cases. We have sent a request on his extradition. So, let’s wait what happens next. If his extradition becomes possible, definitely, relevant agencies will act [accordingly] in frames of law.”
Nika Melia, Chairman of the Political Council of the United National Movement:
“Several hours ago Poroshenko’s oligarchic and totalitarian regime and his security officers detained the President of Georgia and the leader of the United National Movement, Mikheil Saakashvili. Saakashvili’s detention is a coordinated revenge by the oligarchic regimes of [Bidzina] Ivanishvili and [Petro] Poroshenko against the Georgian and the Ukrainian peoples fighting for freedom. Moreover, Saakashvili is being detained upon explicit request of the Russian Federation, and this is exactly why the United National Movement moves to an emergency regime, announces a decisive struggle for Georgia and calls on all Georgian patriots, all Georgian citizens, for whom the ideals of freedom are precious, to gather at the Rustaveli Metro Station tomorrow, at 2pm and take part in the manifestation of dignity.”
Gigi Ugulava, General Secretary of the European Georgia:
“It is very difficult to watch the developments that are unfolding in Kyiv. Governments should not be treating the political opponents in this manner. This is not right and it is particularly saddening that this is happening in our strategic partner country – Ukraine. But the origin of all of these is the political persecution that the Georgian government, [Bidzina] Ivanishvili’s regime has started in 2013 and continues until today against Mikheil Saakashvili and not only. We have political prisoners in the country, so the problem originates in Georgia and should be addressed in Georgia [as well]. The political persecution needs to be stopped, and the country should start from a new page. This is what’s important, and what we are seeing in Kyiv today is a continuation of this problem. Therefore, political responsibility for the political persecution rests on Ivanishvili.”