Pecherskyi District Court refuses to arrest Saakashvili for investigation period
KYIV. Dec 11 (Interfax) - Kyiv's Pecherskyi District Court has dismissed the prosecution's motion to impose a restrictive measure in the form of full-time house arrest on Mikheil Saakashvili, leader of the Movement of New Forces party and former Georgian president, for the duration of the investigation.
"[The court ruled] to dismiss the prosecutor's motion [...] to impose a restrictive measure in the form of full-time house arrest on the suspect Saakashvili," Investigating Judge Larysa Tsokol said, reading the ruling at the Pecherskyi District Court on Monday evening.
The prosecutor's office may appeal this ruling in an appellate court, she said.
An Interfax correspondent reported that the politician's supporters present in the courtroom welcomed this decision of the judge with applause and cheering.
It was reported earlier that Saakashvili was detained in the late evening on December 8. He is charged with aiding and abetting members of criminal groups and concealing their criminal activities and is facing from five to ten years of imprisonment.
Saakashvili was taken to the Pechersky District Court in Kyiv on Monday morning.