Romanian MEP Dan Barna has heavily criticized and condemned the arrest of Nika Melia, leader of the opposition ‘Coalition for Change,’ calling it part of a wider campaign of Georgian repressions under the current government.
In a statement posted on X, Barna, who also serves as Vice-President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), expressed concerns over what he described as the Georgian government’s ongoing crackdown on dissent.
“This is a pattern of intimidating opposition voices,” Barna wrote. “We condemn these actions by the Georgian government, which undermine democratic values and the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of the Georgian people.”
He further voiced support for the country’s pro-democracy movement, adding, “We stand with the brave Georgian people who are resisting the drift away from democracy and the growing Russian influence.”
Melia’s arrest has attracted criticism from international media as concerns over Georgia’s democratic path increase and relations with Western partners crack down.
