Nika Melia and the spiritual distress call to Judge Shvangiradze

A courtroom in Tbilisi, May 30 – and a scene perhaps only familiar from political street theater: Nika Melia , prominent opposition leader of the Zvlilebistvis coalition, stands before Judge Irakli Shvangiradze . He vividly recounts an arrest that felt like a kidnapping. But instead of questions, doubts, or even legal interest, he receives only a brief query about the bail payment.

And then Melia takes the final step: He throws water in the judge's face.

An act of aggression? No. Rather, it was a symbolic attempt to subject the court to a spiritual cleansing —a final stand against an institution that, in the eyes of many, has long since become rigid.

The accusation: insulting police officers

But what was the formal reason for Melia's arrest? According to the Ministry of the Interior, he was arrested under Article 173 of the Georgian Administrative Penal Code – for "insulting a police officer."

A classic law that is regularly used in Georgia when political figures or demonstrators clash with the police. In Melia's case, it concerns his behavior toward the officers during his previous arrest, the legality of which he disputes. What's interesting is that the actual deadline for paying bail—for failure to appear before a controversial parliamentary commission—hadn't even expired at the time of his arrest. According to Melia, the payment deadline was set for midnight on May 30th; he was arrested on May 29th at around 9 p.m.

"How can you arrest someone before the deadline and then pretend it's legal?" Melia asked in court. A question that apparently had only rhetorical significance in the courtroom.

Arrest in a van – without uniform, without license plates

In his court testimony, Melia stated that he was traveling near Lake Lisi to participate in a television program when he was stopped by two vehicles. The people who arrested him were not wearing any visible police insignia. He was forcibly taken into a vehicle containing a total of 11 men who attempted to unlock his mobile phone , allegedly using facial recognition.

According to Melia, video recordings installed in both his vehicle and the accompanying vehicle were destroyed . There has been no official comment on this. The question of whether this was a regular arrest or a kidnapping remains unanswered, as does the court's silence on the legality of the action.

Baptism or shamanic cleansing?

Melia's symbolic act—the pouring of water on Judge Shvangiradze —can be understood as a form of ritual cleansing. In many spiritual traditions, water is considered an element of renewal. In shamanic healing, it is even part of a comprehensive purification ritual intended to free the body, mind, and soul from blockages.

But as with any shamanic ceremony, a single pour is not enough. Healing is a process that requires repetition and deeper awareness.

In this sense, Melia's action was not inappropriate, but rather logical. Only, it remained ineffective.

Judge Shvangiradze showed neither emotion nor insight. The blockages in the system that this act was perhaps intended to resolve were too deep-rooted. A single session is simply not enough when the entire court is institutionally blocked.

A judge without questions

Anyone who expected critical thinking, a willingness to investigate, or even independence from a judge in a political trial was disappointed. Shvangiradze asked no questions about the circumstances of the arrest , expressed no doubt , and refrained from even attempting to interpret Melia's statements. The only visible reaction: a wet shirt collar and a formal cleaning of the courtroom.

This raises the question: Can a judge really just look the other way when a defendant reports violent arrest and data destruction? Or to put it another way: Is indifference already partisanship—just in a milder tone?

A conclusion with a bitter aftertaste

Nika Melia's water spill is being investigated legally, likely with further consequences. But the real scandal lies not in the water – but in the silence. A defendant who speaks of abuse is being ignored. A court that takes its responsibility seriously should have acted. But instead: disinterest. Just going through the motions.

If Georgia's judiciary truly wants to move toward European standards, it shouldn't write new laws—it should finally begin to apply the existing rules. And sometimes, yes, sometimes, even water doesn't help.