Two Georgian defense officials charged over coup attempt
14:1722/05/2009 TBILISI, May 22 (RIA Novosti) - Two Georgian Defense Ministry officials have been officially charged with attempting to forcefully overthrow the government, the Interior Ministry's chief of staff said on Friday.
The former officers, involved in a recent mutiny at the Mukhrovani military base, were arrested early on Thursday during a special police operation in which another suspect, Gia Krialashvili, was killed.
Koba Otanadze and Levan Amiridze were wounded in a shootout that occurred after the three officers refused to surrender to the authorities and attempted to cross the border into South Ossetia.
"Otanadze and Amiridze have been charged with attempting a state coup and organizing a mutiny," Shota Khizanishvili said.
The mutiny broke out on May 5 at a tank battalion stationed in Mukhrovani outside Tbilisi. The troops briefly revolted against the authorities, but agreed to lay down arms after Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili personally urged them to surrender.
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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