The employees of the special penitentiary service of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia took ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili to Tbilisi City Court. A session will be held in the case of the dispersal of the rally on November 7, 2007 and the destruction of the Imedi TV station's office.

The police have cordoned off the court territory. Saakashvili's supporters are on site but they have not been allowed into the court yard. Earlier the Justice Ministry had repeatedly denied Saakashvili's presence at the courtroom on grounds of security measures and health risks.

Hundreds of his supporters have gathered in the courtyard shouting "Misha, Misha!" Heavy police patrols prevented protesters and journalists from approaching the building.

The situation escalated after the police forced several protesters down from the guard post. Two men were on the roof holding Georgian, Ukrainian and US flags and refused to come down.

When the men came down from the guard post, clashes broke out with the police. According to TV Pirveli, the police used pepper spray.

Several hundred of Saakashvili's associates and supporters are outside the court building. Various units of Georgian Interior Ministry have been mobilized for security purposes.

The Georgian Interior Ministry calls on people gathered outside the Tbilisi City Court to respect the law and order.