Former President Mikheil Saakashvili began his trial at Tbilisi City Court on Thursday for illegally crossing Georgia's state border.
The former president, who is recovering at a military hospital in Gori, refused to attend the trial citing his deteriorating health.
Before the trial, prosecutor Levan Vepkhvadze told reporters that the investigation had proved Saakashvili had illegally crossed the Georgian border and that this action was criminally punishable.
"As for the route of his movement, the investigation has established it in detail, including who helped him in Ukraine. It was a high-ranking member of the power structures in the former authorities," Vepkhvadze said.
Earlier it was reported that four Georgian citizens, who helped Saakashvili to cross the border illegally, were detained in Georgia.
We should remind you that Saakashvili is involved in several criminal cases in Georgia. Georgian officials have repeatedly stated that they would detain him as soon as he crosses the border. Saakashvili said his detention was illegal and the charges against him were trumped up.
