Nika Melia sentenced to 18 months in prison for contempt of court
Nika Melia
Photo: Screenshot from Video
Nika Melia, one of the leaders of the opposition Coalition for Change, on Thursday was found guilty of contempt of court and sentenced to one year and six months in prison.
However, the court ruled that the sentence would be absorbed into a previously imposed prison term, meaning he is still expected to be released in December 2026.
Melia was charged with contempt of court for verbally insulting Judge Tornike Kochkian of the Administrative Cases Chamber.
He was prosecuted under Part 2 of Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which defines contempt of court expressed through the insult of a judge as a criminal offence and carries a maximum penalty of up to two years in prison.
All News
06 August 2026, 17:41
Economy
Georgian Economy Minister: Anaklia Port’s new operating model will ensure Georgian ownership and international partner involvement
Georgian Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili said on Thursday that the new operating model for the Anaklia Deep Sea Port would ensure the facility remains under Georgian ownership while allowing multiple international partners to participate in its operations.
06 August 2026, 17:40
Economy
Georgian Economy Minister: consistent infrastructure development key to expanding Georgia’s transport network
Georgian Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili on Thursday said the government was placing special emphasis on the development of its transport sector, with port infrastructure representing one of its key components.
06 August 2026, 17:16
Politics
Georgian PM announces record cargo turnover at Batumi Port amid push to expand port infrastructure
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said on Thursday that cargo turnover at the Port of Batumi had reached a record high, adding that the year would undoubtedly become a record-breaking one for the port in terms of cargo volumes.
06 August 2026, 17:12
Politics
Georgian PM says fabricated social media content seeks to damage country’s interests, pledges strong state response
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said on Thursday that a coordinated campaign involving fake social media accounts was spreading false narratives portraying Georgia as an unfriendly destination for Russian tourists, describing the effort as a deliberate act of sabotage against the country's national interests.
06 August 2026, 15:39
Politics
Georgia’s ruling party official: sabotage investigation timely as orchestrated campaign seeks to portray Georgia as unsafe
Levan Machavariani, the First Deputy Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party faction in the Parliament, on Thursday said on Thursday that launching an investigation into alleged sabotage was “very timely”, as it would help prevent the creation of a narrative portraying Georgia as an unsafe country.
06 August 2026, 15:02
Politics
Georgian Parliament Vice Speaker slams UNM, says party bears responsibility for “the gravest consequences” of 2008 war
Nino Tsilosani, the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Thursday said the United National Movement was serving an “evil cause”, claiming that the 2008 war, which had “the gravest consequences” for the country, was largely the responsibility of the party.
06 August 2026, 14:48
Politics
Georgian Parliament official accuses UNM of seeking to dominate opposition and marginalise rival parties
Nikololoz Samkharadze, the Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Thursday said that the main goal of the opposition United National Movement (UNM) party is to monopolise the opposition space and marginalise other political parties.
06 August 2026, 12:44
Politics
Georgian Parliament official accuses opposition of lacking commitment to Georgia’s interests and people
Levan Makhashvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Committee on European Integration, on Thursday said that any politician seeking to govern a state who justifies sacrificing their own country and population represents “the face of an irresponsible politician”.
06 August 2026, 12:42
Justice
State Security Service launches sabotage probe into foreign-directed, domestically supported disinformation campaign targeting Georgia’s interests
The State Security Service of Georgia said on Wednesday that its State Security Department had launched an investigation into allegations of sabotage linked to a foreign-directed and domestically supported disinformation campaign aimed at undermining Georgia’s state interests.
06 August 2026, 11:33
Politics
Georgian Parliament official: Georgia faces intensified foreign-funded hybrid war carried out through propaganda methods
Rati Ionatamishvili, the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights Protection and Civil Integration, on Thursday claimed that a foreign-funded “hybrid war” against Georgia had intensified in recent months and was being carried out through various propaganda methods.
06 August 2026, 11:24
Politics
Georgian Parliament official accuses domestic opposition of putting external agendas above national interests
Davit Matikashvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Committee on Procedural Issues and Rules, on Wednesday said the domestic opposition’s refusal to answer the questions raised by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in his letter on what he described as artificial Russophobia demonstrated that Georgia was not their primary concern, and that they were instead focused on carrying out instructions received from external actors.
05 August 2026, 18:06
Politics
Georgian Parliament official accuses United National Movement party of advancing Russian interests while in power
Nikololoz Samkharadze, the Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Wednesday dismissed claims that the opposition United National Movement party is anti-Russian, describing the party’s alleged Russophobia as a “fabricated story”.
05 August 2026, 16:48
Politics
Georgia’s ruling party official: Georgia needs healthy opposition, not forces serving foreign interests
Irakli Kirtskhalia, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party faction in the legislative body, on Wednesday criticised the opposition, claiming that the parties opposing the Government do not represent a genuine political alternative but are, in effect, in opposition to their own country.
05 August 2026, 16:36
Politics
Georgian PM highlights historic high in foreign exchange reserves, reaching $7.1 billion
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said on Wednesday that Georgia’s foreign exchange reserves were growing alongside the country’s economic expansion, noting that the National Bank of Georgia was actively working to further strengthen them.
05 August 2026, 15:25
Politics
Georgian PM welcomes Nauru’s decision to sever diplomatic ties with Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday said Nauru’s decision to terminate diplomatic relations with the so-called Republic of Abkhazia and the so-called Republic of South Ossetia once again confirms that respect for and adherence to international law are the foundation of healthy international relations.
05 August 2026, 15:23
Politics
Georgian PM: Anaklia Deep Sea Port project enters active phase, first ships expected in 2029
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday said that work on the Anaklia Deep Sea Port has entered an active phase.
05 August 2026, 15:21
Politics
Georgian PM says maintaining high economic growth rate remains key priority
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday highlighted Georgia’s strong economic performance, noting that the country recorded 8.6% growth in June and a 7.9% average growth rate in the first half of the year, while stressing that sustaining robust economic expansion remains a key priority.
05 August 2026, 15:17
Politics
Georgian PM highlights importance of strengthening ties with Central Asian countries to boost connectivity
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday highlighted the particular importance of Georgia’s relations with Central Asian countries in advancing regional connectivity and strengthening transport links.
05 August 2026, 14:38
Politics
Georgia’s ruling party official: attempts to weaken Georgia economically were aimed at making society easier to control
Irakli Kirtskhalia, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party faction in the legislative body, on Wednesday accused the opposition of serving what he described as “dirty politics”, saying that Georgian society and the ruling team would continue reminding them of their past actions and political positions.