Opposition, activists to camp out in front of parliament to protest UNM chair Melia’s detention
Opposition politicians and civic activists set up tents in front of the parliament building earlier today. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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Opposition politicians and civic 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.
It is a critical night tonight. There are a lot of us here now and they [referring to police] did not irritate us after the disaster what they did this morning… but as soon as the number of people reduces, they might come closer like jackals”, European Georgia leader Gigi Ugulava said.
Demonstrators had initially gathered at the administrative building of the government of Georgia and then moved to the parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue where they set up tents.
Demanding the release of Melia and repeat parliamentary elections be held, opposition has called on everyone to join a large-scale rally on February 26.
Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
Melia, who is charged with incitement to violence during the June protests in Tbilisi back in 2019 sparked by the presence of Russian MPs in the Georgian parliament, was detained for refusal to post bail shortly after the parliament approved Irakli Garibashvili prime minister and his cabinet late yesterday.
Opposition parties and their supporters have blocked off central Rustaveli Avenue earlier today, following the recent arrest of the head of the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party Nika Melia.Melia, who is charged with incitement to violence during the June protests in Tbilisi back in 2019, has been arrested for refusal to post bail.
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'.
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.
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.
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.
Georgian opposition politicians gathered at the residence of European Union Ambassador Carl Hartzel to discuss the recent developments in the country following the detention of United National Movement chair Nika Melia. United States Ambassador Kelly Degnan also joined the meeting.
US President Joe Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has responded to the recent arrest of the head of the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party in Georgia Nika Melia and called on political parties in the country ‘to return to negotiations in support of Georgian democracy.’