Georgia
Georgia: Police detain top opposition leader – DW – 05/30/2025
Police in Georgia have detained Nika Melia, a leading opposition politician, his party said on Thursday.
He is accused of insulting law enforcement officers.
Melia is one of the key figures in the pro-European political alliance Coalition for Change, which is Georgia’s largest opposition group.
It’s the second such detention in recent days.
Last week, a Georgian court placed Zurab Japaridze, another leader of the Coalition for Change, in pre-trial detention for an indeterminate period of time.
Japaridze had refused to appear at a parliamentary inquiry into alleged crimes committed under the former President Mikheil Saakashvili, who is now in jail.
Other opposition figures have also been accused of similar offenses. They have also refused to appear at hearings and have rejected the parliamentary inquiry as illegitimate.
What is the situation in Georgia?
Georgia was previously regarded as one of the most pro-Western and democratic of the Soviet Union’s successor states.
But the current ruling Georgian Dream party is accused by critics of mimicking authoritarian tactics employed by Moscow and steering the country towards Russia and away from Europe and its aspirations of joining the European Union.
The government denies the allegations.
Membership of the 27-nation bloc is a popular goal among Georgians and incorporated in the constitution.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, however, last year postponed accession talks with Brussels until 2028.
That decision revived street protests that had rocked the country in 2023 and 2024 after the government introduced the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence — referred to by critics as the “Russian Law” — that requires NGOs to register as foreign agents or “organizations carrying the interests of a foreign power.”
Georgia has had no formal ties with Russia since Moscow backed separatists in two breakaway provinces in 2008.
Edited by: Sean SInico
Gulfstream recently announced a $5 million investment in Georgia education, welcoming students and leaders to its Savannah headquarters.
ATHENS, Ga. – Designated hitter Daniel Jackson and centerfielder Rylan Lujo combined for nine RBI Sunday, leading fifth-ranked Georgia to a 12-1 win over LSU at Foley Field.
Georgia improved to 41-11 overall, 21-6 in the SEC, while LSU dropped to 29-24 overall and 9-18 in conference play.
The Tigers return to action at 6:30 p.m. CT Thursday when they play host to Florida in Game 1 of a three-game SEC series in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field. Thursday’s game will be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network and streamed on SEC Network +.
“Georgia won the moments in this series,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “They’re going to score, so you’ve got to capitalize against them when you have scoring opportunities on offense.”
Georgia starting pitcher Caden Aoki (8-0) was the winner, limiting LSU to one run on four hits in 5.0 innings with two walks and seven strikeouts.
LSU right-hander Casan Evans (2-3), making his first appearance since April 17 versus Texas A&M, started the game Sunday and was charged with the loss, working 1.2 innings and allowing four runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
“I thought Casan’s stuff looked great, and that’s good for him from a health standpoint,” Johnson said. “He’s a guy that the more he pitches, the better he is, so there might have been a little bit of rust, but I thought he competed fine.”
Georgia struck for four runs in the bottom of the second inning in an outburst highlighted by Jackson’s two-out, two-run single and an RBI single by second baseman Ryan Black.
The Tigers narrowed the gap to 4-1 in the third when designated hitter Omar Serna Jr. delivered an RBI single.
Georgia extended its lead to 7-1 in the fourth as Jackson launched a two-run homer and centerfielder Lujo lined a run-scoring single.
Lujo unloaded a grand slam in the fifth, giving the Bulldogs an 11-1 advantage.
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