Attempted mutiny at Georgia military base

burgundia · 05-05-2009, 09:56 AM

May 5th, 2009

Posted: 05:24 AM ET
...quashed
(CNN) — Authorities foiled an attempted army mutiny in Georgia that they believe was designed to disrupt NATO exercises that are to begin Wednesday in the former Soviet republic, the country’s interior ministry said.

About 500 troops at a military base outside the capital Tbilisi were involved in the rebellion Tuesday that was quickly brought under control, said Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili.

The rebelling soldiers said they were “unhappy with the political situation in the country,” Utiashvili said. The government thinks the mutiny was intended to disrupt the NATO exercises.

NATO said it had no comment on the incident because it did not independently confirm the event. On Monday, NATO’s secretary general said the exercises would begin on schedule.

One person was arrested and authorities are looking for another in connection with the attempted mutiny. Both were high-ranking members of the defense ministry in the 1990s, Utiashvili said.

Georgian security forces have surrounded the base and are in talks with the mutineers to stand down.

Officials did not have “direct evidence” pointing to outside involvement in the attempted rebellion, Utiashvili said.

NATO is expected to launch month-long military exercises this week in Georgia. The move has angered Russia, Georgia’s neighbor to the north, which accused the alliance of “muscle-flexing.”

“Certainly the mutiny was not on a scale” to disrupt the exercises, Utiashvili said.

The countries fought a five-day war in August in the breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia.

In April, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili vowed to remain in office until his term ends, defying calls by anti-government protesters that he step down.

Up to 60,000 demonstrators took to the streets, blaming the president for leading the country with Russia, and plunging it into a political crisis. They also were angry about rising poverty in the country.

– CNN’s Matthew Chance contributed to this report.

05-05-2009, 09:56 AM	#1
burgundia Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Poland Posts: 3,442	Attempted mutiny at Georgia military base May 5th, 2009 Posted: 05:24 AM ET ...quashed (CNN) — Authorities foiled an attempted army mutiny in Georgia that they believe was designed to disrupt NATO exercises that are to begin Wednesday in the former Soviet republic, the country’s interior ministry said. About 500 troops at a military base outside the capital Tbilisi were involved in the rebellion Tuesday that was quickly brought under control, said Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili. The rebelling soldiers said they were “unhappy with the political situation in the country,” Utiashvili said. The government thinks the mutiny was intended to disrupt the NATO exercises. NATO said it had no comment on the incident because it did not independently confirm the event. On Monday, NATO’s secretary general said the exercises would begin on schedule. One person was arrested and authorities are looking for another in connection with the attempted mutiny. Both were high-ranking members of the defense ministry in the 1990s, Utiashvili said. Georgian security forces have surrounded the base and are in talks with the mutineers to stand down. Officials did not have “direct evidence” pointing to outside involvement in the attempted rebellion, Utiashvili said. NATO is expected to launch month-long military exercises this week in Georgia. The move has angered Russia, Georgia’s neighbor to the north, which accused the alliance of “muscle-flexing.” “Certainly the mutiny was not on a scale” to disrupt the exercises, Utiashvili said. The countries fought a five-day war in August in the breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia. In April, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili vowed to remain in office until his term ends, defying calls by anti-government protesters that he step down. Up to 60,000 demonstrators took to the streets, blaming the president for leading the country with Russia, and plunging it into a political crisis. They also were angry about rising poverty in the country. – CNN’s Matthew Chance contributed to this report.