Ex-President of Georgia, leader of the New Forces Movement party, Mikheil Saakashvili, was detained on Friday in the apartment of former head of the Main Directorate of the National Police of Luhansk region Yuriy Pokynboroda, Director of the Interior Ministry's media liaison office Artem Shevchenko has reported.

"For information of the media: Colonel Yuriy Pokynboroda, at whose apartment, Saakashvili, the wanted and suspected stateless person was detained without resistance. Pokynboroda was dismissed five months ago from the ranks of the National Police for staff reduction," Shevchenko wrote on his Facebook page on Saturday.

According to him, Pokynbroda "really headed the police of Luhansk region last winter, but at present he is not a current employee of law enforcement agencies."

Pokynboroda posted a video message, in which he confirmed the detention of Saakashvili in his apartment. He claims that he has nothing to do with the arrest. Pokynboroda also fears for his life. "Now I'm free because I expect someone will kill me in revenge for the arrest of Misha," he said.

As reported, Saakashvili was detained late on Friday, December 8. The case on Saakashvili was opened pursuant to Part 2 of Article 256 of the Criminal Code (assistance to participants of criminal organizations and concealment of their criminal activity), which envisages from five to ten years of imprisonment.

Saakashvili is placed in temporary detention facility of the Security Service of Ukraine in Kyiv. He announced an indefinite hunger strike.

The court must choose a measure of restraint for Saakashvili within 72 hours.