Foreign diplomats urge authorities, opposition in Georgia to remain calm, avoid violence
Foreign diplomats released statements today, urging authorities, opposition in Georgia to remain calm, avoid violence. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a statement today, saying the ministry is concerned by the political situation in Georgia and reduced chance of dialogue, encouraging the Georgian authorities and opposition to refrain from actions jeopardising the country's future prospects.
Parliament's decision to waive the legal immunity of Nika Melia and the possible arrest of the politician reduces the possibility of dialogue =.[_[between the ruling party and the opposition, raising questions about selective justice and the rule of law in the country. We regret that Georgia’s political leaders have so far not taken every opportunity to resolve their differences over last autumn's parliamentary elections", reads the statement.
The Lithuanian MFA encourages Georgian authorities and the opposition to refrain from actions that might lead to 'further stalemate and division of society', also to refrain from possible use of force against citizens.
We call on our partners in Georgia to step away from the red lines, take advantage of the opportunity to de-escalate the situation and look for ways to normalise the situation, as well as to return to constructive political dialogue,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis.
.@LithuaniaMFA concerned with political situation in ???????? & reduced chance of dialogue. MFA encourages #Georgian authorities & opposition 2 refrain from actions jeopardizing country’s future prospects. Full statement here: https://t.co/hZdTrDzmyc
— Lithuanian Embassy Georgia (@LTEmbassy2Ge) February 18, 2021
French Ambassador to Georgia Diego Colas has also posted on his Twitter account:
Winter dawn over Tbilisi, so white and serene.
— Diégo Colas (@ColasDiego) February 18, 2021
May it inspire in those who love their country a spirit of wisdom, moderation and search for solutions which reinforce ???????? institutions and democracy. pic.twitter.com/67V35S6zDh
US Embassy to Georgia posted on Facebook that 'we urge all involved to remain calm and avoid violence'
The current dangerous situation following the Melia ruling stems from decades-long problems with the electoral system and the judicial system. It is imperative the authorities and opposition exercise maximum restraint this morning. The way to address the important issues at stake is through peaceful negotiation", reads the statement.
Former President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves posted on his twitter account 'don't go this route, Sakartvelo... You deserve so much better than this, dear Sakartvelo'.
Don't go this route, Sakartvelo. There are too many people and countries in Europe and the West that would be all too glad to write you off; one less "FSU" country to worry about, feeding all of their self-generated narratives about you being unreformable, hence not worth support
— toomas hendrik ilves (@IlvesToomas) February 18, 2021
Melia is charged with incitement to violence during the June protests in Tbilisi back in 2019 which were sparked by the presence of Russian MPs in the Georgian parliament.
He was released on 30,000 GEL bail on June 27, 2020. However, Melia violated the conditions of his bail by publicly removing his surveillance bracelet and 40,000 GEL was added to his bail in November 2020.
The UNM chair has refused to pay the 40,000 GEL bail (within 50 days of sentencing) and on February 5, 2021 the Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office warned him of the possibility of his bail conditions being reversed to detention.
Yesterday Tbilisi City Court ruled that Melia be remanded into custody for failure to post bail, per the request of the country’s Prosecutor’s Office.
This morning Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia announced his resignation, saying that the step is connected with the upcoming arrest of Melia.
Lithuanian Ambassador to Georgia Andrius Kalindra has met with officials from opposition parties at the office of the United National Movement (UNM) office earlier today. Before entering the office he said that ‘we are working with all political parties to achieve success towards Euro-Atlantic integration’.
US Senator Jim Risch, Former US Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly and former MEP Rebecca Harms have responded to yesterday's decision of Tbilisi City Court which ruled to detain United National Movement chair Nika Melia.
The ruling Georgian Dream party has confirmed a disagreement with recently resigned PM Giorgi Gakharia over the arrest of opposition leader Nika Melia.
Opposition MP and the head of the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party Nika Melia, who was named the reason for PM Giorgi Gakharia recent resignation, has stated that the opposition ‘welcomes’ the PM’s decision, but it is not sufficient.
The European Union urges the Georgian authorities and opposition ‘to act with utmost restraint and responsibility to avoid further escalation’ following a court’s decision to issue an arrest warrant for United National Movement chair Nika Melia and the ‘subsequent resignation’ of Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia.
The US Department of State has responded to current political turmoil in Georgia in regards to the possible arrest of opposition leader Nika Melia and the recent resignation of Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia and called on political parties in the country ‘to show restraint and avoid escalatory actions or rhetoric.’ The US Embassy in Georgia has stated that they appreciate the restraint shown by the authorities and the opposition in responding to the events surrounding the Melia case.