Ex-Ambassador Kelly warns of “negative consequences” if Georgian ruling party officials “continue to attack” Ambassador Degnan

Former US Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly has warned Georgia of “negative consequences” if the Georgian Dream (GD) ruling party officials “continued to raise fake accusations” against current US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan that the latter wished to “drag Georgia” in Russia’s war in Ukraine. 

Kelly, who completed his 33-year diplomatic career in Georgia back in 2018, suggested that the actions of the GD members were “disturbing,” posing threats to the US-Georgia strategic partnership and future prospects in bilateral relations. 

Like Degnan, Kelly reiterated that the US “had never had any plans” to see Georgia in the war.

Three MPs, who have recently left the ruling party with the goal to “tell the public the truth,” Sozar Subari, Mikheil Kavelashvili and Dimitri Khundadze, had claimed that “great forces” wished to draw Georgia in Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Last week Kavelashvili accused Degnan of “degrading the US reputation in Georgia,” and supporting the individuals and the parties who wished for a war in Georgia.

Degnan responded that she was unable to read Kavelashvili’s long letter to the end as it was “full of fake information and conspiracy theories.”

The opposition said that the three MPs, who admitted that they had no controversies with the GD, were “voicing” the GD founder Bidzina Ivanishvili and benefited Russia’s interests.