Mikheil Saakashvili: Detention and unexpected release

In the morning of December 5, law enforcers arrived to conduct a search at the downtown Kyiv apartment rented by Mikheil Saakashvili, the ex-Governor of Odesa Oblast and the leader of the Movement of New Forces, his political movement/party. Following the investigative actions, the Security Bureau of Ukraine (SBU) jointly with the Prosecutor General’s Office detained Mr. Saakashvili under the criminal case (Art 256.1 of the Criminal Code: see details below). Activists tried to set up barricades in front of the building where Saakashvili lives. Clashes between his supporters and law enforcers followed.

Later, the activists pulled Saakashvili out of the SBU van. Surrounded by a crowd, he addressed his supporters and walked up to the Parliament with them.