Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TBILISI3152
2007-12-24 10:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tbilisi
Cable title:
PATARKATSISVILI COUP PLOT UNCOVERED
how-toVZCZCXRO8944 OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSI #3152 3581020 ZNY CCCCC ZZH ZZK O 241020Z DEC 07 ZFF4 FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 8506 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 003152
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR A/S FRIED, DAS BRYZA AND EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/24/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL GG
SUBJECT: PATARKATSISVILI COUP PLOT UNCOVERED
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN F. TEFFT. REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 003152
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR A/S FRIED, DAS BRYZA AND EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/24/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL GG
SUBJECT: PATARKATSISVILI COUP PLOT UNCOVERED
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN F. TEFFT. REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (SBU) On December 24, the Prime Minister called in the
U.S., UK, French, German and Baltic Ambassadors to provide a
briefing on a plot to undermine Georgia's presidential
election on January 5 and thereby to overthrow the Georgian
government. The Prime Minister showed videos of
Patarkatsisvili,s campaign manager (and Parliamentarian)
Valery Gelbakhiani offering a bribe to a senior police
official, Irakli Kodua, in exchange for taking part in
conspiracy to thwart the elections and trigger mass unrest in
Georgia. Specifically, Kodua was to capture and if necessary
kill Minister of Interior Vano Merabishvili as part of the
plot. At Patarkatsisvili,s request, Kodua subsequently met
Patarkatsisvili in London on December 23. Kodua wore a body
microphone which picked up incriminating statements made by
Patarkatsisvili during the meeting, including requesting that
the coup begin on January 3 or 4 with the capture or killing
of Merabishvili. Kodua returned to Tbilisi early on December
24. The tape of his meeting is being processed and will
probably be made public on December 25. Patarkatsishsvili
apparently calculated that Kodua would join a plot because
his mother and brother have both been caught in corruption
probes; as a result of this corruption, his brother left
Georgia and is now in London.
--------------
NEXT STEPS
--------------
2. (SBU) In his meeting with the Ambassadors, Prime Minister
Gurgenidze previewed the Government,s planned next steps,
including his briefing of the OSCE ODIHR Ambassador Boden,
OSCE Ambassador Hakala, and representatives from the Council
of Europe and the EU, the Acting President,s briefing of the
opposition, and the Government,s public disclosure of the
coup plot and release of the incriminating videos at noon.
Later on December 24, there will be a Security Council
meeting and Acting President Burjanadze will address the
country. Patarkatsisvili,s campaign manager, who we
understand is currently in Yerevan, will be invited to the
MOIA for questioning but will not be arrested. (Note: As an
MP, he has immunity which can be lifted by Parliament. End
note.)
--------------
ACTING PRESIDENT BRIEFS OPPOSITION
--------------
3. (SBU) After briefing Western ambassadors, Acting President
Burjanadze met with opposition leaders to brief them on
evidence of the suspected Patarkatsishvili coup plot.
Opposition representatives who showed up included Republican
Party leader Usupashvili, Kukava of the Conservative Party,
Tkemeladze of the Industrialists, and Gachitadze of the New
Rights Party. The Acting President also spoke on the phone
with New Rights leader Gamkrelidze and opposition coalition
candidate Gachecheladze. As of 1500 local time there has
been no public reaction by opposition leaders.
--------------
PUBLIC RELEASE
--------------
4. (U) At noon on December 24, the Government released the
two videos recorded by Kodua. They were carried on all
Georgian national television stations, including Imedi,
Patarkatsisvili,s station. In a follow-up interview with
Rustavi 2, Gelbakhiani admitted having met with Kodua but
said that the tape was edited. He claimed his goal was to
have an ally in the MOIA should there be protests following
the January 5 elections. Gelbakhiani said he plans to
convene a press conference on the issue.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
5. (C) We believe the plot to disrupt the elections and
overthrow the government was real. Bred in arrogance or
desperation, Patarkatsishvili appears to have gambled that he
could manipulate the election process and bring about a
change in government. At this point there is no indication
of demonstrations in Tbilisi. The private reaction seems to
be one of shock that Patarkatsishvili would go to this extent
to achieve power.
TEFFT
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR A/S FRIED, DAS BRYZA AND EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/24/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL GG
SUBJECT: PATARKATSISVILI COUP PLOT UNCOVERED
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN F. TEFFT. REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (SBU) On December 24, the Prime Minister called in the
U.S., UK, French, German and Baltic Ambassadors to provide a
briefing on a plot to undermine Georgia's presidential
election on January 5 and thereby to overthrow the Georgian
government. The Prime Minister showed videos of
Patarkatsisvili,s campaign manager (and Parliamentarian)
Valery Gelbakhiani offering a bribe to a senior police
official, Irakli Kodua, in exchange for taking part in
conspiracy to thwart the elections and trigger mass unrest in
Georgia. Specifically, Kodua was to capture and if necessary
kill Minister of Interior Vano Merabishvili as part of the
plot. At Patarkatsisvili,s request, Kodua subsequently met
Patarkatsisvili in London on December 23. Kodua wore a body
microphone which picked up incriminating statements made by
Patarkatsisvili during the meeting, including requesting that
the coup begin on January 3 or 4 with the capture or killing
of Merabishvili. Kodua returned to Tbilisi early on December
24. The tape of his meeting is being processed and will
probably be made public on December 25. Patarkatsishsvili
apparently calculated that Kodua would join a plot because
his mother and brother have both been caught in corruption
probes; as a result of this corruption, his brother left
Georgia and is now in London.
--------------
NEXT STEPS
--------------
2. (SBU) In his meeting with the Ambassadors, Prime Minister
Gurgenidze previewed the Government,s planned next steps,
including his briefing of the OSCE ODIHR Ambassador Boden,
OSCE Ambassador Hakala, and representatives from the Council
of Europe and the EU, the Acting President,s briefing of the
opposition, and the Government,s public disclosure of the
coup plot and release of the incriminating videos at noon.
Later on December 24, there will be a Security Council
meeting and Acting President Burjanadze will address the
country. Patarkatsisvili,s campaign manager, who we
understand is currently in Yerevan, will be invited to the
MOIA for questioning but will not be arrested. (Note: As an
MP, he has immunity which can be lifted by Parliament. End
note.)
--------------
ACTING PRESIDENT BRIEFS OPPOSITION
--------------
3. (SBU) After briefing Western ambassadors, Acting President
Burjanadze met with opposition leaders to brief them on
evidence of the suspected Patarkatsishvili coup plot.
Opposition representatives who showed up included Republican
Party leader Usupashvili, Kukava of the Conservative Party,
Tkemeladze of the Industrialists, and Gachitadze of the New
Rights Party. The Acting President also spoke on the phone
with New Rights leader Gamkrelidze and opposition coalition
candidate Gachecheladze. As of 1500 local time there has
been no public reaction by opposition leaders.
--------------
PUBLIC RELEASE
--------------
4. (U) At noon on December 24, the Government released the
two videos recorded by Kodua. They were carried on all
Georgian national television stations, including Imedi,
Patarkatsisvili,s station. In a follow-up interview with
Rustavi 2, Gelbakhiani admitted having met with Kodua but
said that the tape was edited. He claimed his goal was to
have an ally in the MOIA should there be protests following
the January 5 elections. Gelbakhiani said he plans to
convene a press conference on the issue.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
5. (C) We believe the plot to disrupt the elections and
overthrow the government was real. Bred in arrogance or
desperation, Patarkatsishvili appears to have gambled that he
could manipulate the election process and bring about a
change in government. At this point there is no indication
of demonstrations in Tbilisi. The private reaction seems to
be one of shock that Patarkatsishvili would go to this extent
to achieve power.
TEFFT