Prosecutor’s Office to appeal release of opposition MP on bail for Tbilisi unrest
The Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office demanded pre-trial detention for opposition MP Nika Melia yesterday. Photo: reginfo.
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The Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office says it will appeal the decision of Tbilisi City Court yesterday to release opposition MP Nika Melia on 30,000 GEL [$10,000]bail, after being charged with incitement to violence on June 20 rally in Tbilisi.
Melia has to inform law enforcers every time he decides to leave home.
He has been deprived of the right to make public statements in public areas.
Melia has already handed his identification documents to law enforcers and was warned not to have any communication with witnesses.
The opposition boycotted the vote in parliament on suspension of Melia's MP immunity. Photo: Nika Melia's facebook page.
The Georgian parliament suspended Melia’s MP immunity on June 26, allowing his detention if necessary.
Melia and the opposition say that the charge has political grounds.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze placed the responsibility on the opposition regarding the June 20 unrest, which left 305 detained and 240 injured.
He stated that the “destructive and irresponsible” calls and appeals by the opposition transformed “a peaceful and justified” rally in Tbilisi into unrest.
The rally in Tbilisi on June 20 was sparked by the presence of Russian MPs in Georgia and an address of one of them from the seat of the Georgian parliamentary speaker.
The United National Movement MP Nika Melia, who stands charged with incitement to violence during the June 20 rally in Tbilisi, has been released on 30,000 GEL [$10,000] bail.
The Georgian parliament has voted to suspend MP immunity for United National Movement opposition MP Nika Melia, upholding yesterday's request from the Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office yesterday to detain the legislator for possible incitement to violence during the June 20 rally in Tbilisi.
The Georgian Parliament’s Procedural and Legal Issues Committee has approved the suspension of MP immunity for opposition MP Nika Melia, giving a green light to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office to detain the legislator for possible incitement to violence during the June 20 rally in Tbilisi.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze says that the “destructive and irresponsible” calls and appeals by the opposition transformed “a peaceful and justified” rally in Tbilisi into unrest on June 20 and the opposition members carry responsibility for that, commenting on recent charges against United National Movement MP Nika Melia.
Public activists and the opposition came with car horns at the administration building of the government on Georgia earlier today to demand the authorities dismiss Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia. Organisers of the Tbilisi protests, which were sparked by the presence of Russian MPs in the Georgian parliament on June 20, say that provocations might be staged during the rallies and they urged the police to ensure the safety of peaceful protests.
Opposition United National Movement party member Nika Melia, who is charged with incitement to violence during the recent Tbilisi protests, will have to wear an electronic bracelet to be monitored, as the Court of Appeals did not change the decision of Tbilisi City Court earlier today and accepted Melia’s release on bail.
Lawyers of former Defence Minister of Georgia Irakli Okruashvili have appealed the decision of Tbilisi City Court to deny bail to the former official regarding the June 20 unrest in Tbilisi.