Tbilisi City Court has set a bail of GEL 50,000 for Nika Melia, one of the leader of the opposition Coalition for Change, for failing to appear before temporary parliamentary commission investigating alleged crimes committed under the previous – United National Movement - government.

The judge fully upheld the request made by Prosecutor Natia Tatiashvili. The Prosecutor argued that Melia posed a risk of committing a new offence and absconding. As evidence, she cited Melia’s prior criminal case and the bail conditions allegedly violated when he failed to appear before the parliamentary temporary investigative commission. Tatiashvili added that absconding did not necessarily mean leaving the country - she claimed Melia was also difficult to reach within Georgia.

Melia denied committing any crime, arguing that the investigative commission was unconstitutional due to the absence of opposition MPs, which he claims is required by law.