20:34

A mass rally demanding the release of former President Mikheil Saakashvili is being held in Tbilisi's Freedom Square.

Axar.az reports that the protesters shouted "Long live Georgia!" shout the slogan.

Nika Gvaramiya, director general of the Mtavari Archi TV channel, read out the third president's address to the protesters.

Saakashvili explained why he returned to Georgia:

"I can't be happy even in Ukraine, which is close to me. When I see so much cruelty and disasters in my beloved homeland, I can't be anywhere else."

***