“The Prosecutor’s Office demands the use of a more severe measure of restraint against Melia instead of imposed bail, namely, detention.” – Mikheil Sadradze
The trial of Nika Melia, Chairman of the opposition United National Movement party, has been scheduled in Tbilisi City Court for 16:00 today. The court will discuss the revision of the measure of restraint against him.
The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia applied to Tbilisi City Court with a motion to change the measure of restraint yesterday, after the parliamentary majority supported the investigative agency’s motion to use the detention measure against the opposition leader with 88 votes in favor and 2 against.
“The Prosecutor’s Office demands the use of a more severe measure of restraint against Melia instead of imposed bail, namely, detention,” Prosecutor Mikheil Sadradze said.
Melia may be arrested for refusing to pay the 40,000 GEL bail, the Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office announced earlier this month. He was charged with incitement of violence during the June protests back in 2019, and was released on bail in November. He should have paid the bail by December 24, 2020 but did not.
By the court’s decision, Melia also had to wear a monitoring bracelet, which he removed publicly during the street protests.
Melia was also banned from crossing the state border without prior consent of the Prosecutor’s Office.
By Ana Dumbadze
