Ukraine releases arrested Georgian ex-president
Kiev Dec 12 (IANS) A district court here in the Ukrainian capital has rejected state prosecutor s request to place former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili under house arrest and released him from custody.
Saakashvili now a leader of the Ukrainian political party "Movement of New Forces " left the court surrounded by his supporters on Monday Xinhua news agency reported.
Judge Larysa Tsokol said the court s decision could be appealed by prosecutors within five days.
Saakashvili was detained on December 8 on charges of "aiding members of criminal groups and covering up their criminal activity."
In July Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko revoked Saakashvili s citizenship following allegations that he submitted false information while applying for his Ukrainian passport.
Poroshenko said the charges were not related to Saakashvili s political activities.
On September 10 Saakashvili defiantly crossed into Ukraine from Poland without showing necessary documents to the border guards.
The 49-year-old politician served two terms as Georgia s President from 2004 to 2013. He acquired Ukrainian citizenship in May 2015 and was appointed Governor of Ukraine s southern Odessa region.
--IANS
in/
