Movement of New Forces leader and ex-President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili, who is not in Ukraine now, has proposed holding a peaceful rally on March 18 across Ukraine to demand Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s resignation and snap elections.
“I propose holding an all-Ukrainian peaceful march demanding the resignation of Poroshenko, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, Prosecutor General of Ukraine Yuriy Lutsenko and snap elections,” Saakashvili said Facebook on Saturday, March 3.
As earlier reported, the police on March 3 reportedly seized nine RGD-5 hand grenades, Molotov cocktails, and five smoke bombs during investigative actions in the tent city set outside the building of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament.
Ukraine’s National Police say more than 100 people were detained for resisting police. Criminal proceedings pursuant to Article 345 (threatening or assault of law-enforcement officers) of Ukraine’s Criminal Code have been launched.
“Police investigators are working on criminal cases, which involve attempts to seize the International Center of Culture and Arts (the so-called Zovtnevy Palace), as well as events that transpired on February 27, 2017 near the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine,” a police statement said.
Police and protesters on February 27, 2018, tussled near parliament. Protesters threw stun grenades and other objects at the police, and smoke from the melee entered the Rada.
Saakashvili said none of his followers took part in the incident.
As earlier reported, Poroshenko in 2015 signed a decree granting Saakashvili Ukrainian citizenship. In July 2017, Poroshenko issued another decree stripping Saakashvili of Ukrainian citizenship. In September 2017, Saakashvili crossed the Polish border into Ukraine surrounded by his supporters.
On February 12, 2018, Saakashvili was arrested in Kyiv and returned to Poland under the readmission procedure.
