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Ukrainian Politician's Supporters Break Him Out Of Police Custody

Mikheil Saakashvili used to be a regional governor but clashed with Ukraine's president, accusing him of corruption.

By: Jake Jones

Posted at 7:27 PM, Dec 05, 2017

and last updated 2017-12-05 19:27:35-05

A dramatic scene played out on the streets of Ukraine's capital as supporters of a prominent politician broke him out of police custody.

That man is Mikheil Saakashvili. He was once Georgia's president; in 2015, he was granted Ukrainian citizenship and became a regional governor there. But he clashed with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko after accusing him of corruption.

Security forces arrested Saakashvili in Kiev on Tuesday morning. But his supporters intervened, surrounding a police van and blocking its exit. The crowd then pulled him free from custody.

He told supporters: "I will lay down my life for the freedom of Ukraine and for its liberation from the hucksters and oligarchs. I want to encourage every citizen of Kiev to take to the streets today, to gather on Maidan [Square] and begin the process of ridding Ukraine of Poroshenko and his gang."

Ukrainian officials gave Saakashvili until 9 a.m. Wednesday to turn himself in.