The investigation into the attack on Nika Melia, one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, which took place on August 11, 2024, in the city of Samtredia, has been resumed.

As Nika Melia's lawyer Beka Kvinikadze states, the investigation was initially initiated under the article of violence, however, the prosecutor's office reclassified the charge and the investigation was continued under the article of violent interference in the election campaign.

According to him, Nika Melia was questioned in a penitentiary institution about 2 weeks ago regarding the aforementioned incident.

“Nika Melia was in Samtredia for the opening of an office, where he was meeting with about 200 people, and at that time he was attacked. This happened on August 11, 2024.

Nika was accompanied by a friend who was helping him with security. This person was summoned for questioning. As far as I know, Tsotne Mirtskhulava, who was there, was also summoned, so the investigation actually began after 2 years.

They visited Nika himself, two weeks ago, without his lawyers notifying us. They came to him as a surprise and formally questioned Nika, as a witness. Nika is not yet known as a victim in this case.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs launched an investigation into this fact at the time under Article 126 of the Criminal Code, which refers to violence. The prosecutor’s office requalified the investigation and is now ongoing under the first part of Article 162 of the Criminal Code, which refers to violent interference in an election campaign, which provides for imprisonment for up to 2 years.

We have been stating from the very beginning that the article under which the Ministry of Internal Affairs initiated the case was incorrect, because it was a pre-election campaign and violence occurred within the framework of the campaign. The prosecutor's office correctly requalified it. The investigator claims that they were waiting for a fingerprint examination and that is why the investigation was dragged out in time, but what was the need when the person who committed the crime himself admits to the act committed? Therefore, what was the point of waiting for an examination at all, when the examination report could have been attached to the case later?

Therefore, all investigative actions are delayed. The investigation should have the only goal when a crime occurs, which is to immediately identify the person who committed the crime and bring him to justice. Therefore, the investigation has lost its effectiveness in this case, what is the result? I can't say what they want, that will be the result. The attack was carried out for political reasons. The woman also stated in her testimony that she attacked Nika Melia for political reasons.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs is conducting an investigation, but of course, the prosecutor's office supervises it and makes the final decision. Real investigative actions have begun now," said Beka Kvinikadze.