UNM head Nika Melia has sent a letter from prison to TV Pirveli, saying that Ivanishvili and his entourage 'are on the horns of a dilemma,' and they will have to pay the price irrespective of the decision they make.
''Ivanishvili and his representatives are on the horns of a dilemma: if they let me go, I will sit at the negotiating table, and they will feel great discomfort because of my moral and psychological advantage over them. Also, on 15 May, I will cover the entire capital and its surroundings and use all my advantages for the country's benefit and against them. They also are well aware of the fact that international and local pressure will grow; they have failed to reassure anybody that they do not have a political prisoner in the country,'' Nika Melia's letter reads.
Nika Melia's court trial was scheduled for tomorrow.
Mr. Melia has been accused of committing grave crimes against public security in connection with June 20-21 June developments.
Tbilisi City Court sentenced Nika Melia to GEL 30,000 bail on June 27, 2019. After refusing to post bail, its amount was increased to GEL 40,000.
In his social media post, the UNM head wrote as follows: ''I refuse to pay the bail even if it was in the amount of GEL 1, and I do ask everyone who is eager to do so (whether it be a foreigner or anyone else) to forget about their altruistic intention to post my bail.''
The parliament of Georgia stripped Mr. Melia off immunity on February 16, 2021.
On February 17, judge Nino Chaknashvili approved the prosecutor's motion and sentenced Melia to imprisonment. The judge refused to recuse herself after she had been requested to do so.
Law enforcement officers arrested UNM head Melia, on March 23, with special forces taking him to the penitentiary institution.
Nika Melia is now serving his term at Rustavi No.12 penitentiary facility.
