Georgian police have arrested two prominent opposition leaders, Nika Melia and Gigi Ugulava, during street protests against the ruling administration in Tbilisi on February 2. The two, along with thousands of other demonstrators, attempted to block traffic on a major motorway in the capital.
Videos of their arrests, showing heavy-handed tactics by law enforcement, spread quickly on social media.
Melia, leader of the pro-European Liberal party, was detained for an “administrative violation” and released on bail later that night. His lawyer reported that Melia was kicked by a senior police officer while at the station. Levan Ioseliani, Georgia’s Public Defender, condemned the police’s excessive use of force against citizens, journalists, and politicians.
The European Union reacted strongly, with foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas calling the crackdown “unacceptable.” She stated, “Georgia falls short of any expectation from a candidate country,” adding that the EU supports Georgia’s fight for freedom and democracy.
Tensions in Georgia have been rising since the October parliamentary elections, which were marred by allegations of fraud despite being deemed well-organized by international observers. The ruling Georgian Dream party’s decision to suspend EU accession talks until 2028 has only fueled anger, with critics accusing the government of moving closer to Russia.
