Ruling party: whoever burnt Melia’s office will be held strictly accountable. UPDATED
The election office of opposition majoritarian candidate in Gldani Nika Melia. Photo: On.ge.
Tweet 
Share
Updated: 14:47
Ruling party member Beka Davituliani stated that whoever is behind the burning of Melia’s office ‘will definitely be held strictly accountable.’
The investigation will reveal who stands behind this", he said.
Earlier:11.57
The glass of the election office of opposition majoritarian candidate in Gldani district of the capital city of Tbilisi, Nika Melia, was smashed and a fire broke out in the building early this morning.
We found out that a fire had started in our office at 6 a.m. We found broken windows and two bottles of gasoline in the building. I hope this abomination will be investigated... they were going to burn the building completely, but could not do so due to the timely mobilisation of the police", Melia told a local TV channel Mtavari Arkhi.
Photo: On.ge.
Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs has already launched an investigation into the case.
Melia participated in the October 31 parliamnetary elections as a joint candidate of the opposition.
He is the only opposition majoritarian candidate who won the race. However, Melia was unable to receive 51 per cent of votes and the second round of elections was scheduled in Gldani on November 21.
Melia, like other opposition leaders, took to the street following the elections, stating that the elections were fabricated.
Nine people, including the three opposition United Georgia party members, have been detained during the clashes with police at the Saburtalo and Isani district election commissions (DECs) in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi. Opposition politicians and their supporters have gathered at various DECs in Tbilisi and regions where the election administration is reviewing the election-related appeals.
The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs has started an investigation into nine incidents that were observed during the parliamentary elections today, announced Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Kakha Sabanadze. He said that in total 10 individuals were arrested in relation to seven cases of administrative violations.
Five individuals have been detained for disobedience to the police and hooliganism following a clash at a polling station in Gldani district of Tbilisi earlier today, Patrol Police Head Vazha Siradze has stated.
Clashes have taken place between the ruling Georgian Dream and opposition United National Movement party supporters in Gldani constituency in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi periodically throughout the afternoon.
The International Republican Institute (IRI) said in its interim report that the ‘significant constitutional and election reforms’ adopted by the Georgian government earlier this year aimed at encouraging multiparty democracy and coalition rule, ‘were affected by credible reports of irregularities in the campaign period and on Election Day’.