The U.S. Helsinki Commission has released a statement regarding the current events in Georgia.
Leaders of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, Senator Roger Wicker, Senator Ben Cardin, Congressman Alcee Hastings, and Joe Wilson, have criticized the arrest of opposition leader Nika Melia and think that the current events are not in line with Georgia's democratic progress and call on the government to release the chairperson of the United National Movement.
"As a participating State of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Georgia has committed to respecting democratic institutions, human rights, and the rule of law.
Storming the headquarters of an opposing political party and arbitrarily detaining its leader is not in keeping with democratic progress. We urge the Government of Georgia to release Nika Melia, deescalate the crisis, and recommit to dialogue rather than aggression," reads the statement.
