The leader of the New Forces Movement party and ex-President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, who is being held at the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) detention facility, has announced his decision to go on a hunger strike.

"He said he was announcing beginning of an indefinite hunger strike. He also said he would refuse from any force-feeding. In the event of remanding him in custody for 60 days, he will prolong his hunger strike yet further," Saakashvili's lawyer said outside the SBU facility in the early hours of Saturday.

It was reported that Saakashvili was detained in Kyiv and placed in a temporary detention facility. Inquiries are under way and a court is due to decide on a measure of restraint soon.