In Georgia, opposition leader Nika Melia and five other politicians were sentenced to prison in a crackdown seen as an attack on democracy.

Georgia has been rocked by an unprecedented crackdown on the pro-European opposition, with six senior politicians, including opposition leader Nika Melia, sentenced to jail. Observers denounce the move as a serious breach of democracy, as the government halted the EU accession process after disputed elections. The politicians were convicted for refusing to testify before a parliamentary committee, and human rights organizations are drawing attention to abuses and torture among protesters.