Reminds me of the case of Navalny and Putin, it will be a suicide - Pavilionis on the possible arrest of Melia

"It all reminds me of the history of Navalny and Putin. I think it would be suicide for the country that is a candidate for NATO and EU membership," said Lithuanian MP Žygimantas Pavilionis in connection with the Tbilisi City Court's decision to sentence Nika Melia to imprisonment.

"In the West, in Europe, we do not arrest opposition leaders. I'm reminded of the story of Navalny and Putin. I think it would be suicide for a candidate country to join NATO and the European Union.

We are fighting for your European future and I do not think you have many such friends. Now comes the Biden administration, with whom I have worked for a long time as ambassador to the United States, I know these people care about democracy, human rights, and dignity.

If this government is really thinking about EU membership and we have signals that this could happen even sooner in the case of NATO, it should not even think about taking such steps. Russia has always tried to divide us. Even now Russia is trying to provoke you, but be smart," said Žygimantas Pavilionis.

According to him, the only solution now may be to hold early elections in Georgia.

"I will come to Tbilisi with the Lithuanian Foreign Minister and my president may also come with only one message - sit at the negotiation table, find a compromise, unite and go west, new elections may be the only solution, but all parties must agree. You must agree on when and under what conditions." , - said Žygimantas Pavilionis in an interview to "Mtavari Channel".

Žygimantas Pavilionis says he will arrive in Georgia tomorrow, February 19, to meet with opposition leaders and will also try to meet with the government.