Ex-president arrested in Georgia following return to the country

Georgian police officers escort former President Mikheil Saakashvili after he was arrested in Rustavi, Georgia (Interior Ministry/AP)

Former president Mikheil Saakashvili was arrested after returning to Georgia, the government said, a move that came as the ex-leader sought to mobilise supporters ahead of national municipal elections seen as critical to the country’s political makeup.

The announcement by prime minister Irakli Garibashvili came about 18 hours after Saakashvili, who was convicted in absentia on abuse of power charges and has lived in Ukraine in recent years, posted on Facebook that he was back in the country.