Clashes erupted outside Tbilisi City Court as Georgia's former President Mikheil Saakashvili went on trial after a hunger strike on November 29.

Footage shows residents gathering outside the courthouse with police getting involved to calm the tensions.

Saakashvili in 2018 was sentenced in absentia to six years in prison on two counts of abuse of office and is facing two more similar charges.

On November 20 the former president was moved to a military hospital after doctors feared he may die from his hunger strike.

The officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs detained 15 persons on the fact of disobedience to the lawful request of the police.

According to the statement issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the protest rally in front of Tbilisi City Court held in parallel with the trial of Ukranian citizen, former president - Mikheil Saakashvili, has exceeded the norms defined by law on freedom of assembly and expression.

“Police applied proportional force and special means within its mandate against protesters who failed to adhere to the rightful requests of police and responded to the law enforcers with violence.

Those gathered in front of the court building and adjacent area, later moved to Aghmashenebeli Alley and illegally blocked the main road.

Despite multiple calls from law enforcement officers to clear-up the motorway, protesters and manifestation organizers ignored the instructions.

The officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs detained 15 persons on the fact of disobedience to the lawful request of the police in accordance with Articles 166 and 173 envisioned by the Code of Administrative Offenses.

Employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs remain mobilized and maintain public order in connection with the ongoing protest in front of Tbilisi City Court. All relevant units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are deployed on the ground to maintain rule of law and order; relevant police technic remains stationed on the territory as well.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs, as the agency responsible for maintaining the rule of law, calls on citizens, political leaders, manifestation organizers and rally participants to observe public order and follow the rightful requests of the law enforcers. The police will act in accordance with its mandate and immediately foil any fact of violation”, reads the statement.According to the third president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, he does not recognize the Prosecutor's Office and the Georgian judiciary. He made the relevant statement before the November 7 trial.

"I do not recognize the Prosecutor's Office and the Georgian judiciary, I am not here to be part of a pre-written comedy," Saakashvili said.

At the same time, the judges appealed to Saakashvili that the accused has the right to drink water, to which Saakashvili replied that he appreciated their kindness.

At the beginning of the trial, the attendees played the Georgian national anthem, which was followed by a reprimand by judges.

"Prohibition of the anthem? Under the anthem of Georgia, I, who composed this anthem, do not want to argue now," Mikheil Saakashvili said.

Lawyer Beka Basilaia petitioned the judges to allow all television stations to cover the trial.

At the same time, Judge Nino Elieshvili appealed to the lawyers to stop broadcasting the hearing on the social network.

"Stop broadcasting. Otherwise, leave the hall,” the judge said, after which the lawyers stopped broadcasting.


US Ambassador: We're very glad that Mr. Saakashvili’s condition allows him to attend today his hearing, I hope that his supporters will act responsibly