Alleged secret conversation leaks between Saakashvili and UNM member

Ukrainian Wikileaks has published a stenographic record of a secret conversation allegedly held between Georgia’s former President Mikheil Saakashvili and United National Movement (UNM) Member of Parliament (MP) Koba Nakopia.

In the record published on January 12, Saakashvili and Nakopia allegedly talk about the future plans of the former UNM members who left the party on the same day, January 12.

Saakashvili tells Nakopia that with the help of Eka Kherkehulidze (former UNM MP) he acquired "some very interesting materials”, including online conversations describing "serious things” happening in Georgia.

"These conversations are from a closed group. It’s very important information. It’s about the future plans of those ungrateful idiots [who left the UNM]. They are working to win others over to their side”, Saakashvili allegedly says.

"I won’t forgive them for writing these things about me. I’ll kick them out. I will let you read [the conversations] when you come to my place”.

Then the pair speak of a woman identified as Eliso. Nakopia tells Saakashvili that he paid Eliso $4,000 USD as had had been told to do by Saakashvili. Saakashvili replies that "She’s a dirty woman but she’s gutsy. Now she’s working on [Giga] Bokeria and others. I’m going to make her fully discredit Bokeria’s followers and the Chergoids [possibly Bokeria’s wife Tamar Chergoleishvili]”.

It is understood from the conversation that it is the second time Nakopia has paid Eliso and that a month earlier Saakashvili had also paid her. Saakashvili adds that before it was the former Defence Minister David Kezerashvili who used to pay her but "now he’s bound up with Bokeria” so "we have to keep paying her”.

The authenticity of the record has not been confirmed.

Georgia’s largest opposition party United National Movement split earlier this week. Almost 60 party members and leaders left the UNM and announced their intentions to form a new political force, European Georgia.