Georgian Police Use Pepper Spray Against Saakashvili Supporters Near Court

TBILISI (Sputnik) - Police in Georgia have used pepper spray to disperse supporters of imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili who gathered in front of the Tbilisi City Court on Monday ahead of a trial, a Sputnik correspondent reported.

The protesters threw bottles at law enforcement officers in response.

The police officers also detained former Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava for disobeying their orders, according to the correspondent.

Supporters of Saakashvili have blocked the traffic near Tbilisi City Court in Tbilisi pic.twitter.com/oIJSEtyZXY

— Shota Kincha (@shotakincha) November 29, 2021

В #Тбилиси начался суд над #Саакашвили
Возле здании суда собрались несколько тысяч человек.
Местный спайдермен решил сбросить с забора оператора)) pic.twitter.com/WnMW9PaAPQ

— ᎶᎥᎧᏒᎶᎥ 🇬🇪🇪🇺 (@Made_in_Georgia) November 29, 2021

Saakashvili, who was Georgian president from 2004-2013, fled the country after his second term, because he was charged with abuse of power, stealing public money, and ordering a crackdown on a peaceful rally.

On 1 October, he returned to the country ahead of municipal polls, and urged his supporters to march on the capital Tbilisi. He was arrested and after a hunger strike moved to a military hospital.