MEP Gahler calls for the opposition United National Movement party to reach a compromise over Nika Melia’s arrest

Michael Gahler, a member of the European Parliament, and a member of the EP’s Committee on Foreign Affairs stated in an interview with TV Pirveli that the opposition United National Movement party should reach an agreement on the issue of Nika Melia’s release. MEP added that a possible compromise, in this case, would be agreeing on Melia’s release on the condition of him wearing the electronic tracking bracelet. Michel Gahler also noted that the cases of Giorgi Rurua and Nika Melia, both of whom the country’s opposition bloc classifies as political prisoners should be considered separately, as, in the case of the former, the option for release would be the presidential pardon, while the latter needs to post his bail to be released from detention.

MEP Michel Gahler was among the seven signatories of the joint statement of the members of the European Parliament which was released shortly after the last round of failed talks between the ruling party and opposition mediated by Christian Danielson during his second visit to Georgia. In their statement, the MEPs call for the EU to respond to the parties’ reluctance to come to an agreement and de-escalate the political climate in the country:

“Following the refusal from the political parties to compromise, Georgia’s leaders should not expect a return to business as usual from the European Union. The European Parliament, in particular, will call for consequences in terms of EU financial assistance, including both a suspension of further disbursements of and an increase in conditionality linked to EU Macro-Financial Assistance and budget support programmes,” the statement reads.

The first round of talks mediated by the special representative of the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, was held on March 12. Following the failure of the first round of talks, Danielsson returned to Tbilisi on March 27 to hold the second round of negotiations, however, no agreement was reached.