UNM Chairman Nika Melia’s bail worth 40 thousand GEL has been paid, reads the statement published on the website of the EU Delegation.
“Today, a bail worth 40.000 GEL was posted in order to allow for Mr. Melia’s release from pre-trial detention. This follows the understanding reached by the political parties on 19 April 2021 in the context of the EU-mediated agreement. We would like to warmly thank two independent organizations who agreed to lend their valuable support in this process: the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) who made the funds available and the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) who transferred these funds to the authorities.
“This is another important step taken to end the political crisis in Georgia and implement the agreement of 19 April. We expect this step to further facilitate all elected Members of Parliament to join the agreement and contribute to its implementation, in the interest of Georgia, its citizens, EU-Georgia relations and Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic future,” reads the statement.
Pre-trial detention was ordered for Melia on February 17. He stands accused of organizing group violence during anti-government protests in June 2019 (so-called ‘Gavrilov’s Night’). UNM leader denies the charges. He was arrested on February 23.
By Ana Dumbadze
