UKRAINIAN supporters of fugitive former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili freed him from a police van yesterday shortly after his dramatic rooftop arrest.

Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) agents went to Mr Saakashvili’s Kiev flat to arrest the now-stateless ex-governor of Odessa province. In a dramatic turn of events he climbed onto the roof and threatened to jump off.

Mr Saakashvili’s attempted arrest followed accusations that he has been plotting to oust Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko whom he has branded a “criminal, thief and traitor.”