Prepared by Messenger Staff
Tbilisi Court Hands Nika Melia Additional Prison Term for Contempt of Court
The Tbilisi City Court has sentenced Nika Melia, co-chair of the opposition Ahali party, to one year and six months in prison after finding him guilty of contempt of court for a May 30 incident in which he threw water at Judge Irakli Shvangiradze during a heated hearing.
Melia has been held since May 30. He previously received an eight-month sentence on June 27 for refusing to cooperate with a parliamentary investigative commission set up by the Georgian Dream majority to review alleged crimes committed by former officials. Like several other opposition figures, he boycotted the proceedings, arguing that the commission lacked legitimacy. He had been scheduled for release in January.
The latest ruling stems from a hearing held the day after his arrest, which Melia and his supporters denounced as unlawful. During that session, Melia attempted to describe how he had been detained and, believing the judge was dismissive of his account, splashed water at him. He was then removed from the courtroom and placed in pre-trial detention in the so-called Tsulukiani Commission case. Prosecutors later charged him with the incident, saying he also insulted the judge while being escorted out. His new sentence is calculated from June 20.
Several jailed opposition politicians, including Melia, have since faced further allegations that include sabotage-related offenses. Melia has been accused of sabotage, a charge that carries a potential penalty of two to four years in prison.
Finance Minister Meets U.S. Acting Ambassador to Discuss Economic and Sanctions Cooperation
Georgian Dream Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili held a meeting with U.S. Acting Ambassador Alan Purcell on November 26 to review ongoing cooperation and regional economic issues.
According to the U.S. Embassy, the discussion covered bilateral economic relations, Georgia's economic outlook, the impact of U.S. sanctions on Russia, and possible ways Georgia could support the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, also known as TRIPP.
The Finance Ministry released its own statement, noting that the meeting also touched on the recent visit by U.S. State Department representative Jonathan Asconas. The ministry said the two sides reviewed tools for strengthening the enforcement of international sanctions in Georgia and highlighted the work carried out by the Customs Department.
Deputy Finance Minister Ekaterine Guntsadze and U.S. Embassy Economic and Commercial Officer Amir Alavi were also present at the meeting.
Earlier this month, on November 10, Khutsishvili met with British Ambassador Gareth Ward as part of ongoing diplomatic and economic engagement.
