Court Sets Bail at 70 000 GEL for Opposition MP Nika Melia

Tbilisi City Court has discussed the issue of tightening the measure of restraint against Nika Melia, one of the leaders of the opposition United National Movement party.

The court partially satisfied the motion of the Prosecutor’s Office and increased the amount of bail imposed on Nika Melia as a measure of restraint to GEL 70,000 instead of demanded GEL 100,000.

Further, he has also been prohibited from leaving Georgia without informing the prosecution in advance and receiving its consent.

The opposition MP commented on the court's decision, saying that the fact the prosecution couldn't arrest him despite the agency's will once again indicates that "Ivanishvili's government has collapsed and state agencies no longer operate."

Yesterday, November 3, the General Prosecutor's Office demanded bail of 100,000 GEL and restriction on border crossing for one of the leaders of the UNM. 

The reason was his removing of his electronic bracelet at the protest rally on November 1.

"Melia demonstratively took off the electronic monitoring device while making a public statement at the opposition rally on Sunday, protesting the Central Election Commission’s announcement of the preliminary voting results for the parliamentary elections. The deliberate act by Melia is a clear violation of the injunction imposed on him and creates legal grounds for immediate prosecution," the investigative agency said.

Nika Melia was obliged to wear an electronic bracelet to be monitored by police on the decision of the Court of Appeals in July 2019. 

The Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation against him under Article 225 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, on charges of organizing or managing group violence or participating in it during the June 20-21 rally in front of the Parliament of Georgia in Tbilisi last year.

By Ana Dumbadze 

Related Story: Prosecution Demands 100,000 GEL Bail, Restriction on Border Crossing for UNM Leader