US Ambassador: “Only legitimate way to come to power is through elections”

"The only way to come to power is through a ballot box; any other way is illegitimate,” says United States (US) Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly.

The Ambassador’s comments were in response to a secret recording of a conversation allegedly between the country’s ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili and members of his United National Movement (UNM) party that detailed plans to stage a revolution after the elections. 

The US diplomat said he had not heard the recording but he stressed everyone needed to be focused on having an election that guaranteed the will of the Georgian people was respected.

And the way to do this is a calm pre-election environment with open debate of issues,” he said.

So far we have seen a very good, calm pre-election environment … [and] the only way to come to power is through a ballot box. Any other way is illegitimate,” said the Ambassador.

Kelly stressed any type of intimidation or threats by political parties or by the Government was "unacceptable”. 

We need to ensure that the Georgian people are able to express their free will at ballot boxes. Any other way is undemocratic and unacceptable,” said the US Ambassador. 

Meanwhile Kelly added he would make additional comment if authorities proved the leaked recording was authentic.

The recording allegedly claimed to overthrow the Georgian Government using violence after the October 8 Parliamentary Election.

Georgia’s State Security Service has launched an investigation in the alleged "conspiracy to alter constitutional structure of Georgia by violence”. 

The secret recording of a conversation allegedly between Georgia’s ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili and United National Movement (UNM) party leaders leaked on YouTube earlier today. In the recording participants discussed a "revolutionary scenario” after UNM lost the Parliamentary Elections on October 8, 2016.

The alleged participants of the conversation were Saakashvili and UNM leaders and Members of Parliament Akaki Minashvili, Gigi Tsereteli, Nugzar Tsiklauri, Petre Tsiskarishvili and Akaki Bobokhidze.

In the recording, Saakashvili was heard saying: "We need a revolutionary scenario. We appear as losers, which is why we need to mobilise the masses.”

Learn more about the recording here.