Several thousand supporters of opposition leader Mikheil Saakashvili are rallying in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev to demand his release from jail.
Saakashvili, the former president of Georgia turned opposition leader in Ukraine, was arrested Friday on accusations of colluding with Ukrainian businessmen tied to Russia to topple President Petro Poroshenko, AP reported.
Saakashvili rejected the allegations and his lawyer said he was refusing food to protest his detention.
His supporters marched Sunday across downtown Kiev, demanding his release from custody and calling for Poroshenko’s ouster. The demonstration was peaceful and police didn’t intervene.
Saakashvili, the former governor of the Odesa region who was stripped of his citizenship this summer, was arrested Friday night.
Saakashvili rejects the allegations of colluding with Ukrainian businessmen tied to Russia, pointing to his long record of opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He must be brought to court for arraignment within 72 hours of arrest. No day for that has been announced. A spokesperson for the prosecutor-general’s office, Andrei Lysenko, said Saturday that officials will likely ask for him to be held under house arrest after his court appearance.
He also faces the possibility of being sent back to his native Georgia, where he faces charges of abuse of office from his years as president from 2004 to 2013.
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