Foreign diplomats concerned by special operation at UNM office, call on Georgian gov't to start negotiations
Police used tear gas in the room where Melia was gathered with his supporters, however before starting the special operation they evacuated the UNM office. Photo: IPN.
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Foreign diplomats and politicians have expressed concern over the special operation of Georgian police which stormed the United National Movement office this morning to arrest its chair Nika Melia.
Police used tear gas in the room where Melia was gathered with his supporters, however before starting the special operation they evacuated the UNM office, where party leaders and opposition parties' representatives had been protecting Melia for several days.
In response to these events US Congressman Adam Kinzinger called on the government to 'stand down from this dramatic action'.
This is a very concerning move by the Govt of Georgia. Given the tense situation, I call on the Govt to stand down from this dramatic action. We are all watching. https://t.co/YoglwixFdk
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) February 23, 2021
I watched this raid live. As the Co-chair of the Country of Georgia caucus, I am very concerned. We just introduced again the Georgia Support Act. That is not something that is automatic. https://t.co/gWj2r8fbHF
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) February 23, 2021
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis posted on his Twitter account that 'violence is not the way to resolve political disagreements'.
Worried to see what’s happening in Tbilisi this morning. Violence is not the way to resolve political disagreements. I hope our Georgian friends can avoid plunging into a deeper crisis. Restraint and commitment to democracy must prevail.
— Gabrielius Landsbergis (@GLandsbergis) February 23, 2021
Lithuanian Ambassador to Georgia Andrius Kalindra called for 'restraint on all sides for the sake of the future of Georgia'.
Unfortunate start of the day, seeing the developments at the opposition party office in #Tbilisi. Call for restraint on all sides for the sake of the future of #Georgia. Violence & escalation can produce no positive outcomes.
— Andrius Kalindra (@a_kalindra) February 23, 2021
Ambassador of Great Britain to Georgia Mark Clayton said that 'violence and chaos in Tbilisi are the last thing Georgia needs right now'.
Shocked by the scenes at UNM headquarters this morning. Violence and chaos in Tbilisi are the last thing Georgia needs right now. I urge all sides to act with restraint, now and in the coming days. @UKinGeorgia
— Mark Clayton (@MarkClaytonFCDO) February 23, 2021
Estonian Foreign Ministry stated:
Estonia strongly condemns the violent storming of the opposition party office & escalation of the political situation in #Tbilisi GE????????I call on the Govt and the opposition to exercise restraint & return to political dialogue. It´s critical to make right decisions for the future!
— Estonian MFA ???????? (@MFAestonia) February 23, 2021
Member of the European Parliament Rasa Jukneviciene urged political leaders in Georgia to start negotiations.
Braking.
— Rasa Juknevičienė (@RJukneviciene) February 23, 2021
I urge political leaders in Georgia to start negotiations and think about the future of there country. https://t.co/m2BqD85Z6a
MEP Urmas Paet said:
???????? @Urmaspaet: “I am deeply concerned about the Georgian government’s decision to detain the leader of the main opposition party. Instead of using force to resolve disagreements, there needs to be proper dialogue to end the political polarization." #Georgia pic.twitter.com/sfB15GUTgG
— Renew Europe (@RenewEurope) February 23, 2021
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former Secretary General of NATO and former PM of Denmark posted:
What’s happened in #Georgia ???????? today is very worrying.
— Anders Fogh Rasmussen (@AndersFoghR) February 23, 2021
The first to lose out are the Georgian people.
I urge restraint and for Georgia not to backtrack. We stand with those defending the rule of law and democracy in Georgia.
Michael Carpenter, Managing Director of the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagemen expressed hope that 'cooler heads will prevail and the situation can still be de-escalated'.
Very unfortunate developments in the Republic of Georgia with the storming of the opposition party’s HQ. Hoping cooler heads will prevail and the situation can still be de-escalated.
— Michael Carpenter (@mikercarpenter) February 23, 2021
Former US Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly posted:
Very sad day in Georgia. https://t.co/8JUJM7h6EB
— Ian Kelly (@ikelly731) February 23, 2021
Former Minister of Defence and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevicius posted:
Concerned about tentions in #Georgia. Our friends have achieved a lot: frontruners implementing #AA/DCFTA, one of #NATO's most active partners. Would be irresponsible to waste it all. All leaders must show restraint and be guided primarily by the interests of the State.
— Linas Linkevicius (@LinkeviciusL) February 23, 2021
The US Embassy in Georgia has responded to the arrest of the United National Movement leader Nika Melia and a special operation which stormed the UNM office this morning and stated that 'Georgia has moved backward on its path toward becoming a stronger democracy in the Euro-Atlantic family of nations'.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has responded to the arrest of opposition leader Nika Melia earlier today and stated that ‘Melia is a criminal’ and that everyone in a democratic state is equal before the law.
Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria and Transparency International Georgia NGO have condemned the recent arrest of opposition leader Nika Melia and stated that the move will further complicate current political tension in the country.
Georgian opposition parties which won seats in the October 31, 2020 parliamentary elections and who demand repeat elections have postponed a rally on February 25 to ‘give time to the ruling Georgian Dream party’ to resume talks.
Former Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, who resigned earlier today amid a disagreement with the ruling Georgian Dream party over the detention of opposition leader Nika Melia’s detention, said ‘confrontation and rivalry’ in Georgia endanger its future democratic and economic development.
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.
Twenty-one people were detained earlier today when special unit servicemen stormed the United National Movement office to arrest party chair Nika Melia, announces Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Former opposition MP and the head of the United National Movement opposition party Nika Melia has been arrested by police earlier today for refusal to post bail shortly after the parliament approved Irakli Garibashvili prime minister and his cabinet late yesterday. Melia was arrested in his office in the UNM headquarters in Tbilisi by special unit servicemen. Police allegedly used pepper spray in the room.
EU Ambassador Carl Hartzell has responded to a special forces storm of the United National Movement office this morning to arrest its chair Nika Melia and said that 'all sides need to demonstrate responsibility and have the best interest of the country and the Georgian people at heart' in his post on Twitter.
Georgia's former prime minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili and former foreign minister Mikheil Janelidze have reacted to the arrest of opposition leader Nika Melia on Tuesday and subsequent political tensions in the country by calling on the government to avoid confrontation, with Janelidze also making a call for repeat parliamentary elections.
The international community continues to react to the arrest of United National Movement leader Nika Melia earlier today during a special operation of UNM party offices.
Opposition politicians and civis activists who gathered in front of the parliament building in downtown Tbilisi following the detention of opposition United National Movement (UNM) chair Nika Melia plan to camp out in protest tonight.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili met with Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili earlier today to discuss the necessity of dialogue in the current political crisis. President Zurabishvili has also discussed the recent developments with the ambassadors of United States, France and Germany, Kelly Degnan, Diego Colas and Hubert Knirsch, respectively.
Two individuals have been arrested for damaging the United National Movement opposition party office in Gori.
Officers of Gori Police Division have detained a fourth individual in connection with the case of damaging the office of the United National Movement opposition party in eastern city of Gori.