Court releases Saakashvili, denying request for house arrest

A Kyiv district court ruled on Dec. 11 to release
protest leader Mikheil Saakashvili, who was named a suspect by prosecutors in criminal
conspiracy and concealment for allegedly organizing his protests on behalf of
the Yanukovych entourage and Russian Federal Security Service. He was allowed
free without an electronic bracelet pending government investigations of his
alleged crimes. The court rejected the Prosecutor General’s request to place
Saakashvili under house arrest. Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko said he would
appeal the decision. Upon his release, Saakashvili returned to the apartment in
the city center where an attempt of his arrest was made on Dec. 5.

Zenon Zawada: We believe Saakashvili’s release was approved by the president, who
has significant influence on Ukraine’s courts. This further confirms our view
that the Poroshenko administration’s strategy of dealing with Saakashvili
consists of a campaign of gradually intimidating and exhausting him, while at
the same time discrediting him in the eyes of the public. It’s worth noting
that the prosecutor at yesterday’s hearing warned that Saakashvili could be
assassinated by FSB agents. Since we don’t believe Saakashvili has any FSB ties
(these are the administration’s allegations), that statement could be
interpreted as a form of intimidation. The administration arranged for
Saakashvili’s release because of the risk that his captivity – or even
deportation – will empower the protest movement. Like a cat toying with a
mouse, the administration will simply arrest Saakashvili and file more criminal
charges should his ongoing protest activity pose a renewed threat.