On 10 May, the Tbilisi City Court satisfied the prosecution’s motion to substitute United National Movement Chair Nika Melia’s pre-trial detention with a release on bail.
The decision came after the European Union (EU) posted a bond of 40,000 lari [approximately $12,000] for Melia’s release. “The pledge was made after political parties in Georgia reached an agreement on April 19 through the mediation of the European Council. We sincerely thank two independent organisations that agreed to provide financial support in this process: the European Endowment for Democracy, which provided funds, and the Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA),” the EU said in a statement. This decision was called “another important step to end the political crisis in Georgia and the implementation of the 19 April agreement. It is hoped that this will encourage all parliamentarians to join the agreement and contribute to its implementation.”
Melia’s refusal to pay his release bail intensified the political crisis in Georgia (Caucasus Watch reported) which lasted from 18 February until 19 April 2021. The crisis ended after the EU Council President Charles Michel came with a renewed proposal to the political parties in Georgia, which foresees that early parliamentary elections shall be called in 2022 if a few conditions are met. One, if the ruling Georgian Dream party receives less than 43% of valid proportional votes in the October 2021 local self-government elections and that Melia and the shareholder of the opposition minded TV Channel Giorgi Rurua would be released. Only two opposition parties, United National Movement and European Georgia, did not sign the document. Although individual or former members of these parties put their signatures.
