Scotland’s former first minister Alex Salmond appeared in an Edinburgh court on Thursday charged with attempted rape. He was accused of 14 offences overall including two of attempted rape, nine of sexual assault and two of indecent assault.
Outside court he said he was "innocent of any criminality, whatsoever."
"The only thing I can say is I refute, absolutely, these allegations of criminality and i'll defend myself to the utmost in court," he added.
Police were investigating sexual harassment allegations by two former staff members.
Mr Salmond took legal action against the Scottish government's handling of the complaints process against him.
He won a judicial review earlier this month after the government conceded it had acted unlawfully while investigating the harassment claims against him.
A figurehead of Scottish independence, he was first minister from 1990 to 2000 and again in 2007 until 2014. He resigned from the Scottish National Party last year after the allegations that date back to 2013 came to light.
Mr Salmond stepped down as first minister the day after Scotland voted to remain in the UK after a 2014 referendum.
The former first minister frequently appears and hosts his own show on the Russian TV network RT - a decision that has at times drawn criticism from Scottish politicians.
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