(Read full article on civil.ge)

Mikheil Saakashvili has become yesterday Georgia’s first former President to be appear in the dock as he was brought from Gori Military Hospital to Tbilisi City Court on trial accused of exceeding authority during November 7, 2007 crackdown.

The ex-President was previously denied by the Penitentiary Service the courtroom appearance three times during his 50-days-long strike after his arrest on October 1.

Saakashvili is already convicted in absentia by three instances of Georgian courts and is sentenced six years in jail, including three years over pardoning police officials implicated in high-profile Sandro Girgvliani murder case and six years over beating up ex-MP Valeri Gelashvili. He is further charged in three more cases, including November 7 case, embezzling public funds and the latest of illegal border crossing from on the night of September 28-29.