Exiled ex-leader Saakashvili faked return to Georgia: Authorities

Georgia’s ruling party accuses Mikheil Saakashvili, who faces jail, of faking his return ahead of a key municipal vote.

Mikheil Saakashvili, the former Georgian president, has told his supporters he was back in the country despite facing the threat of prison and urged them to vote for the opposition at an upcoming municipal election – but the ruling party accused him of faking his return.

Georgia’s interior ministry told the independent Formula TV channel on Friday that “Saakashvili did not cross Georgia’s state border”.

Saakashvili, who has been based in Ukraine, announced plans earlier this week to fly home for Saturday’s local elections in order to help “save the country” and called for post-election street protests.