Georgia: ex-president Mikheïl Saakashvili arrested on his return from exile – franceinfo

This return and arrest could cause serious tensions between the opposition and the ruling Georgian Dream party, which is increasingly unpopular in this Caucasian country accustomed to political quarrels.

Charismatic reformer as much adulated as criticized, Mikheïl Saakachvili had announced Friday morning to be back in his homeland, which he had left in 2013. The government had warned him that he would be immediately arrested if he returned, being wanted for “abuse. of power “, a case he considers political and for which he was sentenced in absentia to six years in prison in 2018.

“Georgia’s third president Mikheil Saakashvili arrested and sent to prison”Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Friday evening. He specified that the security forces had followed Mikheïl Saakashvili’s movements from Ukraine and had “decided on a police operation where and when there were the least obstacles to arrest”.

In a video posted on Facebook on Friday evening, before his arrest, the former president called on supporters of his opposition party, the United National Movement (MNU), to mobilize for the elections on Saturday. “Go to the polls and we will all celebrate our victory together”, he had said, adding that he had “afraid of nothing”.