The preventive measure initially imposed on Nika Melia, one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, has been replaced with imprisonment following his failure to pay bail. Tbilisi City Court Judge Irakli Shvangiradze made this decision.

The court cited the non-payment of bail as the primary reason for this change. According to Judge Shvangiradze, Melia deliberately did not fulfil his financial obligation, and the deadline for bail payment has now expired.

Furthermore, the judge noted that Nika Melia owns real estate registered in his name, which could have been used as collateral to ensure the bail payment. He also highlighted that the court considers the defendant’s behaviour; according to Shvangiradze, Melia does not exemplify the conduct of a law-abiding citizen.

Nika Melia was granted a bail of GEL 50,000 on April 29 as a preventive measure after failing to appear before the Parliament’s Temporary Investigative Commission studying the activities of the 2003-2012 government and its officials. Based on the commission’s application, the Prosecutor’s Office charged Melia under Article 349 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to “failure to comply with the request of the Temporary Investigative Commission of the Parliament of Georgia.” This offence is punishable by a fine, up to one year of imprisonment, and a potential deprivation of the right to hold a position or engage in certain activities for up to three years.

Melia’s bail payment deadline expired on May 29.
Furthermore, on May 29, Nika Melia was administratively detained by law enforcement officers. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, his detention was carried out under Article 173 of Georgia’s Administrative Offences Code, which addresses verbal insults or other offensive acts against law enforcement officers during or in connection with the performance of their official duties.