Western media is reporting on a “military mutiny” amongst Georgian troops after a coup plot – linked to Russia and aimed at assassinating President Mikhail Saakashvili was uncovered.
A mutiny has broken out at a military base near the capital of Georgia, the government says.
It came after officials said they had uncovered a coup plot – linked to Russia and aimed at assassinating President Mikhail Saakashvili.
Russia described the charge as “delirium”, a news agency said.
Georgia’s defence minister said the rebels meant to disrupt Nato military exercises due to start in Georgia on Wednesday.
Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev has condemned Nato for planning military exercises in a country “where there was just a war”.
Georgia and Russia have poisonous relations, and fought a war over Georgia’s breakaway territory of South Ossetia last August.
Georgia said on Tuesday a Russian-planned coup plot had been uncovered within the military of the former Soviet republic and a rebellion was under way at a military base near the capital.
The Interior Ministry said those involved in the plot had received money from Russia which has criticized NATO military exercises in Georgia due to begin on Wednesday.
“The main aim of this uprising was to disrupt the NATO military exercises,” Defense Minister David Sikharulidze told Reuters. “We are in negotiations with the soldiers at the Mukhrovani base and I hope this uprising will end soon.”
Sikharulidze said the commanders of the military base 19 km (12 miles) from the capital Tbilisi had been dismissed and the soldiers confined to barracks.
The Interior Ministry said one person had been arrested.
“They (the plotters) were receiving money from Russia,” ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili told a news conference. “It seems it was coordinated with Russia.”
If indeed Russia is behind the “alleged coup” and an attempt at assassinating President Mikhail Saakashvili, then we can expect that this “failed mission” will not be the last attempt. But if this “failed mission” is directly linked to the planned NATO military exercises scheduled for May 6th to June 1st, which NATO secretary general urged not to be cancelled, then what can their next step be?
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