Jim Risch, a ranking member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, writes about the case of Nika Melia.

“I am encouraged to see that Nika Melia, leader of Georgia’s United National Movement Party, has been released from prison. His release fulfills of one of the key promises made in the April 2021 agreement that was designed to bring an end to the country’s 18-month-long political impasse.

Now that Mr. Melia has been released, I expect to see those political parties that have not yet signed on to last month’s agreement make good on their promises, sign the agreement, take their seats in Georgia’s Parliament, and work alongside the other signatories to close this messy chapter in Georgia’s political history“, - said Jim Risch.