Romanian MEP slams arrest of opposition leader Nika Melia

Romanian Member of the European Parliament and ALDE Vice-President Dan Barna has voiced deep concern over what he described as a “crackdown” in Georgia following the arrest of Nika Melia, a leader of the Coalition for Change.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, Barna wrote:

“Deeply concerned by the ongoing crackdown in #Georgia with the arrest of Nika Melia, a leader of the Coalition for Change. This follows a pattern of intimidation against opposition voices. We condemn these actions by the Georgian government, which undermine democratic values and Georgian people’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations. We stand with the brave Georgian people resisting a slide away from democracy and against rising #RussianInfluence. #StandWithGeorgia 🇬🇪”

Melia, a vocal critic of the ruling Georgian Dream party, was forcibly detained on Thursday by police near Lisi Lake in Tbilisi while traveling to participate in a podcast recording. His lawyer and party members have called the arrest “unlawful,” claiming that plainclothes officers seized Melia’s belongings, forcibly placed him in a vehicle, and transported him to an unknown location. He was later reported to be in custody at the Digomi detention facility.

Melia had been facing legal proceedings for allegedly failing to comply with a parliamentary commission investigating past crimes under the previous United National Movement government, for which bail had been imposed and Melia has refused to pay it.