Georgia blames Russia for army mutiny

The Georgian army says it has quashed a mutiny that it blames on Russia.

Dozens of tanks and military personnel carriers were sent to a military base after reports of a rebellion this morning.

Local police say the plotters wanted to assassinate President Mikhail Saakashvili, while the defence ministry said they were backed by Russia and wanted to disrupt NATO military exercises due to start tomorrow.

Saakashvili said in a television address that a serious mutiny had been organised to act against Georgia’s integration into the European Union and NATO.

Announcing they had put an end to the rebellion, army officials said Saakashvili had arrived at the base in question, in Mukhrovani near the capital Tbilisi.

They added the leader of the mutiny had been arrested.

Russia has been urging NATO not to go ahead with tomorrow’s planned practice manoeuvres in Georgia but Moscow’s NATO envoy denies any Russian involvement with this morning’s events.

The military alliance is sending over 1,000 troops from over a dozen member countries as a show of solidarity with Georgia.

Last August, the former Soviet Republic fought a five-day war with Russia.

Moscow intervened after a Georgian crackdown on pro-Russian separatists in the breakaway region of South Ossetia.

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tags: Georgia, Russia