UPDATE: 3 demanding ex-president Saakashvili’s release near ex-ruling party chair Ivanishvili’s house detaine

Updated at 20:02

Three individuals demanding Georgia’s ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili’s release have been detained, protesters report. 

Earlier at 18:36

Civil activists supporting Saakashvili have gathered close to the house and business centre of former ruling party chair Bidzina Ivanishvili.

United under the ‘Freedom for Misha’ movement they plan to hold permanent rallies until the ex-president will be eventually released from the detention facility. 

It is the matter of personal dignity to protect the third president of the country, this is why we will go everywhere forcing this person’s release”, one of the protesters, Giorgi Mumladze said. 

Law enforcers have also gathered to maintain order on the ground.

• What criminal charges have been filed against recently arrested ex-president Saakashvili?

Saakashvili, who is a citizen of Ukraine and chairs the Executive Committee of the Ukrainian National Reforms Council, was detained on October 1. 

The third president of Georgia was convicted in absentia in 2018 and was sentenced to six years in prison for abuse of authority. 

He has also been charged with four other offences related to the illegal seizure of property, embezzlement, illegal rally dispersal, and illegal border-crossing.