Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili lost his cool, throwing punches — and a telephone — at his prime minister, Russia’s news media reported Thursday.
A Georgian tabloid quoted an anonymous source saying Saakashvili physically attacked newly appointed Prime Minister Grigol Mgaloblishvili. The story did not explain what provoked the president.
Saakashvili has an unusual public image, depicted as a short-tempered man with strange habits, according to the Daily Telegraph. Popular newscast footage showed him chewing his tie while giving a phone interview during Russia’s summer invasion of the Georgian region of South Ossetia.
Mgaloblishvili was confirmed as Georgia's prime minister in November after Saakashvili fired his former head of government in October.
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox