On 28 January, Georgia’s Prosecutor Office released Iveri Melashvili and Natalia Ilychova on a pre-trial detention. 

Melashvili and Ilychova were accused of conspiring to cede 3,500 hectares of land to Azerbaijan. Protests were held by the opposition forces in the country simultaneously with the court hearing, claiming that the accused are innocent and until now, they have been imprisoned on political grounds, as both of them held positions during the rule of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. 

The step was welcomed by the Citizens’ and Girchi parties in the country. “I am very, very happy. It is disgusting when the state falsely arrests people, but it is good that the Georgian Dream came to its senses and released them. I say with full responsibility that this release on bail is the result of negotiations. Yes, the negotiations have yielded results, and that is a good thing. It is a step towards continuing the negotiations and restoring trust between the parties. I have rarely been as happy as I am today,” stated the Citizens’ leader Aleko Elisashvili. “I think the release of Iveri Melashvili and Natalia Ilyichova on bail is a step taken by the authorities to say that they are constructive at the negotiating table,” said Girchi member Iago Khvichia.

The leader of the parliamentary faction of the ruling Georgian Dream party Archil Talakvadze, expressed his optimism that opposition groups would soon enter the parliament. He also spoke about the possible termination of mandates of the opposition parliamentarians (Caucasus Watch reported), saying that it would not be discussed at the extraordinary session. “Termination of mandates will not be considered at the extraordinary session, we have stated that we will use our time as much as possible to leave the door open for healthy opposition forces to join the parliamentary political process,” he noted. Talakvadze pointed out that the government’s position, the majority of society and Georgia's international partners is the same - democracy means participation, and boycotting participation is incompatible with democracy. He added that the radical part of the opposition has lost the arguments related to the falsification of the election results and it is better for them to reconsider their decision to refuse their mandates.

However, representatives of other opposition forces in the country reiterated their stance to continue boycotting the parliament seats. Paata Manjgaladze from Strategy Aghmashenebeli opposition party, said that if the Georgian Dream terminates the opposition MP mandates, the issue of non-entry would be closed, and negotiations in this direction would no longer make sense. He added that the opposition would continue fighting within the Constitution, but more uncompromisingly and with more diligence. The same stance was expressed by the United National Movement representatives.