Parliament gives consent to detention of opposition MP Melia
Opposition MP Nika Melia faces six to nine years in prison.Photo: Nika Melia’s press office.
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The Georgian parliament has voted to suspend MP immunity for United National Movement opposition MP Nika Melia, upholding yesterday's request from the Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office yesterday to detain the legislator for possible incitement to violence during the June 20 rally in Tbilisi.
91 voted for the suspension of Melia’s MP immunity in the 150-member parliament.
From the United National Movement and the European Opposition parties only Melia attended the plenary session.
The two parties boycotted the session as they believe Melia is being politically persecuted and the Chief Prosecutor’s Office failed to present evidence justifying his detention.
Rallies continue in Tbilisi. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
Earlier today Parliament’s Procedural and Legal Issues Committee approved the suspension of MP immunity for Melia.
MP immunity prohibits searching or detaining a member of parliament without the permit of the legislative body.
Melia is charged with organising violence by a group, heading the group and participation in the violence during the June 20-21 rallies in Tbilisi.
Melia has called the charge “funny and invented,” saying that his possible detention has political grounds.
It is what Ivanishvili [founder of the Georgian Dream ruling party] and Putin want,” Melia said.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has placed the responsibility on the opposition regarding the June 20 unrest, which left 305 detained and 240 injured.
He stated that the “destructive and irresponsible” calls and appeals by the opposition transformed “a peaceful and justified” rally in Tbilisi into unrest.
The rally in Tbilisi on June 20 was sparked by the presence of Russian MPs in Georgia and an address of one of them from the seat of the Georgian parliamentary speaker.
The Georgian Parliament’s Procedural and Legal Issues Committee has approved the suspension of MP immunity for opposition MP Nika Melia, giving a green light to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office to detain the legislator for possible incitement to violence during the June 20 rally in Tbilisi.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze says that the “destructive and irresponsible” calls and appeals by the opposition transformed “a peaceful and justified” rally in Tbilisi into unrest on June 20 and the opposition members carry responsibility for that, commenting on recent charges against United National Movement MP Nika Melia.
A member of the United National Movement parliamentary opposition, MP Nika Melia has been charged with organising violence by a group, heading the group and participation in the violence during the June 20-21 rallies in Tbilisi, the Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office says.
The United National Movement and the European Georgia opposition have boycotted the plenary session in parliament earlier today, after the Georgian Dream ruling party declined to discuss a resolution text on the dismissal of Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia, drafted by European Georgia MPs.
The United States Embassy in Georgia released a statement on June 26, saying it is “following closely developments in Georgia” after the June 20 protests in Tbilisi. “Although it is important that acts of violence, as well as incidents of excessive use of force against demonstrators, be investigated, we urge the Georgian authorities to proceed with balance and restraint”, the Embassy stated.
The United National Movement MP Nika Melia, who stands charged with incitement to violence during the June 20 rally in Tbilisi, has been released on 30,000 GEL [$10,000] bail.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze did not come to parliament today to present his annual report and answer the legislators’ questions, which is a violation of the rules of the legislative body. However Georgian Dream member Mamuka Mdinaradze says that the reason for the postponement is the current situation in the country
The Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office says it will appeal the decision of Tbilisi City Court yesterday to release opposition MP Nika Melia on 30,000 GEL [$10,000]bail, after being charged with incitement to violence on June 20 rally in Tbilisi.
Opposition United National Movement party member Nika Melia, who is charged with incitement to violence during the recent Tbilisi protests, will have to wear an electronic bracelet to be monitored, as the Court of Appeals did not change the decision of Tbilisi City Court earlier today and accepted Melia’s release on bail.
Four individuals have been detained for group violence during the June 20 rally in Tbilisi, which left 240 injured and 305 detained.The Georgian Interior Ministry has released a video depicting how the detainees used rubber batons and other items to physically insult law enforcers, trying to drag away their shields and use bad language against the police.
Three individuals have been detained for group violence against police during the June 20 rally, the Georgian Interior Ministry has reported.“As of now 12 have been charged with organising and participating in group violence during the rally, including opposition member Nika Melia,” the ministry spokesperson stated earlier today.
Former Minister of Defense Irakli Okruashvili has been found guilty in the June 20 rally case and been sentenced to five years in prison by Tbilisi City Court today.
The European Court of Human Rights on Thursday ruled legitimate the arrest and detention of opposition leader Nika Melia for incitement to violence during protests in Tbilisi back in June 2019.