Nika Melia's court trial is underway at Tbilisi City Court

At Tbilisi City Court, a trial is underway for Nika Melia, one of the leaders of the ‘Coalition for Change’, regarding his failure to appear before the parliamentary temporary investigative commission. The defendant, Nika Melia, is attending the session.

When Judge Irakli Shvangiradze asked whether he wanted to challenge the judge’s authority, Nika Melia replied: “I have a great desire to remove you, all of you, but for now, there is no such possibility. To remove you, Murusidze, Chinchaladze—generally, the whole system… I told you what my desire is,” Nika Melia responded to Judge Irakli Shvangiradze.

Nika Melia was brought to Tbilisi City Court from the Digomi temporary detention facility, where he was arrested by law enforcement on the evening of May 29 for a completely different matter, under an administrative charge—specifically, according to the agency’s statement, for verbally insulting or otherwise offending a law enforcement officer.

For context, Nika Melia was summoned to the session of Georgia’s parliamentary temporary investigative commission to provide explanations, but he did not appear, after which charges were brought against him.

By decision of the Tbilisi City Court, bail was set at 50,000 GEL as a preventive measure, which he did not pay.

Nika Melia has been charged under Article 349 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns “Failure to comply with the request of the parliamentary temporary investigative commission.”

This offense is punishable by a fine, or by imprisonment for up to one year, and may also involve a ban on holding office or engaging in certain activities for up to three years.