US EditionJailed Georgian opposition politician gets extra sentence for splashing water at judge
Nika Melia received an additional 1.5-year sentence after splashing water at a judge; he is already serving 8 months and faces charges of plotting against the government.
- The Tbilisi City Court on Wednesday ordered an additional 1-1/2 year prison term for Nika Melia, co-chair of the Ahali-Coalition for Change party, following a conviction for courtroom conduct earlier this year.
- Melia has been jailed since May after he and other opposition figures refused to appear at a parliamentary inquiry into alleged crimes linked to jailed former President Mikheil Saakashvili, and his Ahali-Coalition for Change party says it rejects the charges as politically motivated.
- Video from the courtroom shows Melia splashing water from a plastic bottle toward Judge Irakli Shvangiradze during a May 30 hearing, and Melia said the judge was acting on political orders.
- The court said time already served will be credited, and Melia will spend another 14 months in prison while supporters protested outside the court and one detained demonstrator was reported.
- Critics note that in recent months, the ruling Georgian Dream party has cracked down on critics while Melia and Nika Gvaramia face sabotage charges and Melia plus seven other oppositionists face overthrow allegations.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Jailed Georgian opposition politician gets extra sentence for splashing water at judge
A leader of one of Georgia's main opposition groups was sentenced to an additional 1-1/2 years in prison on Wednesday after being found guilty of contempt of court for throwing water on a judge during a hearing earlier this year.
Jailed Georgian opposition politician gets extra sentence for splashing water at judge
TBILISI - A leader of one of Georgia's main opposition groups was sentenced to an additional 1-1/2 years in prison on Wednesday after being found guilty of contempt of court for throwing water on a judge during a hearing earlier this year. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Jailed Georgian opposition politician gets extra sentence for splashing water at judge
TBILISI (Reuters) -A leader of one of Georgia's main opposition groups was sentenced to an additional 1-1/2 years in prison on Wednesday after being found guilty of contempt of court for throwing water on a judge during a hearing earlier this year. Read full story
In Georgia, opposition figure Melia was given 1.5 years in prison for throwing water on a judge. Melia is currently serving an 8-month sentence for failing to appear at a meeting of a controversial parliamentary commission that, at the initiative of the ruling Georgian Dream party, was investigating alleged crimes by the previous government. His prison term was due to expire in January.
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