Parliament lifts MP immunity to UNM Chair

16:12, 16.02.2021

The Georgian parliament voted for lifting the parliamentary immunity to Nika Melia, Chairman of the United National Movement (UNM) party, with 88 votes pro and two con.

Tuesday’s decision of the Georgian lawmakers grants the Prosecutor’s Office the right to apply to the court to request substitution of the existing restraint against Melia with imprisonment.

UNM Chairman Nika Melia was charged with incitement to violence during the June protests in the Georgian capital Tbilisi in 2019 and was released on GEL 30,000 bail. Melia violated the conditions of bail later by removing his surveillance bracelet. The court added GEL 40,000 to his bail amount for disobedience in November 2020. Melia did not pay.

The General Prosecutor’s Office (POG) warned Melia of replacing the bail with custody. POG appealed to the Georgian parliament to suspend his MP status to request his arrest from the court on February 5.

By - Elene Dobordjginidze

Politics

MP immunity

Nika Melia