The government of Georgia has recently come under fire for its decision to storm the headquarters of the country’s main opposition party, the United National Movement (UNM), in Tbilisi, in a bid to arrest and detain the party’s leader, Nika Melia.
Authorities have accused the opposition leader of organising “mass violence” during the anti-government protests of 2019. While Melia has challenged the authenticity of these claims, stating that the charges are politically motivated, his arrest is set to heighten rising political tensions that have plagued the country since the October parliamentary elections for which the opposition is demanding a re-run.
The arrest comes after parliament – consisting mainly of the ruling Georgian Dream Party – approved and named a new Prime Minister, Irakli Garibashvili. The new head was chosen following the resignation of his predecessor, Giorgi Gakharia, who objected to subjecting Melia to pre-trial detention, which he believed would stoke the already lit flames of tension in the country.
In his confirmation speech, the new Prime Minister remained dogged in parliament’s decision to refuse the snap elections demanded by the opposition, saying, “We categorically refuse any negotiations on a snap election! This issue is closed! This issue is not being considered!” With regards to Melia’s arrest, he added that “the law must be enforced”.
International Community Responds
The US Embassy in Georgia expressed concern about Melia’s detention, saying in a statement Tuesday that Georgia “has moved backwards on its path toward becoming a stronger democracy.”
“We regret that the call of the United States and other international partners for restraint and dialogue was ignored,” the embassy said. “We are dismayed by the polarizing rhetoric from Georgia’s leadership at a time of crisis. Force and aggression are not the solutions to resolving Georgia’s political differences.”
The Tbilisi City Court issued the order for the detention of Melia on February 17, accused of inciting violence at mass protests on June 20, 2019, during events in which demonstrators attempted to storm the parliament building after a row over a Russian MP being allowed to address the chamber from the speaker’s chair.
