Georgian troop mutiny suspect killed in police operation - TV
15:2321/05/2009 TBILISI, May 21 (RIA Novosti) - A former army officer suspected of involvement in a mutiny at a Georgian tank base on May 5 was killed and two others wounded in a police operation early on Thursday, Georgian television said.
Gia Krialashvili was killed during a gun battle that erupted when police attempted to arrest the former officers, the Rustavi-2 channel reported. The two other suspects were wounded and hospitalized.
The Georgian interior ministry confirmed the reports.
"The wanted persons offered resistance and, in the exchange of fire, Krialashvili was killed while [Koba] Otanadze and [Levan] Amiridze were injured," a spokesman for the country's police told a media briefing on Thursday.
All three had been on a police wanted list over their alleged involvement in the short-lived mutiny at the Mukhrovani tank base near the Georgian capital.
The Georgian Interior Ministry initially claimed the mutiny was backed by Russia, as part of a plot to overthrow the Georgian leadership. Moscow has denied the claims.
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said the troop revolt was aimed at "creating unrest in Georgia, to damage the country's security and democratic system."
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