2009 Georgian attempted mutiny
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Georgian mutiny was a mutiny
by a Georgian Army tank battalion
based in Mukhrovani
, Georgia
, 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) east of the capital Tbilisi
on 5 May 2009. It is not yet known how many soldiers took part. Later that day, the Georgian Ministry of Interior announced that the mutineers had surrendered. Some of its leaders, including the battalion's commander, were arrested; others managed to escape. The mutiny broke out after the government announced that it had uncovered what it claimed was a Russia
n-backed plot to destabilize Georgia and assassinate President
Mikheil Saakashvili
. Later, Georgian authorities retracted their accusations of an assassination plot and allegations of Russian support.
Georgia has been affected by unrest since the 2008 South Ossetia war
.
Since April 2009, protests
have called for the resignation of the Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili. In March, nine members of the political party Democratic Movement – United Georgia
were arrested after allegedly purchasing automatic weapons ahead of more anti-government demonstrations, a claim described by its leader as "absurd". Several senior government figures recently defected to the opposition, claiming Saakashvili started an unwinnable war that left the breakaway regions of South Ossetia
and Abkhazia
further in Russian control. In May 2009, Russia decided to take control of South Ossetia's border with Georgia.
The mutiny took place a day before the planned NATO exercises in Georgia. NATO drills were condemned by Russia
, which referred to them as an "attempt to cheer up the Saakashvili regime".
, 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) from the Georgian capital of Tbilisi
, began to disobey orders.
According to the mutineers statement, circulated by local media, they were not planning any military action, and urging for dialogue between the government and the opposition during ongoing political crisis
. Colonel Mamuka Gorgishvili, commander of the Mukhrovani Tank Battalion, stated: "Watching the country being torn apart by the current standoff is unbearable. There is a possibility of this standoff turning violent". Police then barred reporters from approaching the base.
According to the Minister of Defense, Vasil Sikharulidze
, the plotters' minimum goal was to undermine the NATO military exercises beginning this week in Georgia. Sikharulidze also mentioned to the Rustavi 2
television that the rebellion was also "an attempt of a military coup." In response to the mutiny, the Georgian Army deployed troops, military police, helicopters, and 30 tanks and armored vehicles, alongside Georgian Police units, some equipped with armored vehicles, to the base. In a televised address, the President of Georgia said the mutineers had been given a deadline to surrender. Although not specifying when the deadline would expire, he did say that an order "to act appropriately" has been given out to the law enforcement agencies if the negotiations would fail. President Saakashvili also suggested that the mutiny was part of a wider Russian-orchestrated plan to disrupt the upcoming NATO military exercises "Cooperative Longbow - Cooperative Lancer 09
" in Georgia, scheduled to start on 6 May and Georgia’s joining with EU's Eastern Partnership
. The soldiers at Mukhrovani quickly surrendered after Saakashvili entered the base accompanied by heavily armed bodyguards to negotiate with the mutineers. After their surrender, the mutineers were disarmed, and Georgian military police removed the mutineers from the base in buses. Almost three dozen mutineers were arrested, and according to some reports, their relatives were detained and tortured. However, three of the mutiny's organizers fled, sparking a manhunt. On May 21, the suspects were found by Police leaving Tbilisi
in a minivan. One was shot dead, and two others were wounded and arrested. According to Georgian authorities, the suspects ignored police orders to stop and began shooting, prompting the police officers to return fire. 21 of the mutiny plotters were put tried. The last trials concluded on 11 January 2010. Colonel Koba Otanadze was given 29 years in prison, while Rangers' Battalion Commander Levan Amiridze was given 28 years, and Tank Battalion Commander Shota Gorgiashvili was given 19 years. All three had been charged with attempting to overthrow the government. National Guard Commander Koba Kobaladze was sentenced to eight months and six days imprisonment for the illegal purchase and possession of weapons. The remaining defendants were tried for various crimes including disobedience and illegal weapons possetion, and given sentences ranging from three to fifteen years of imprisonment.
by some former military officials, who were in coordination with Russia. Shota Utiashvili, head of the information and analytical department of the Georgian Interior Ministry, said that the mutiny seems to be coordinated with Russia and aimed at minimum thwarting NATO military exercises and maximum organizing full-scale military mutiny in the country. Later, Georgian authorities retracted accusations of Russian support.
, Jemal Gakhokidze, Koba Kobaladze
, and Gia Karkarashvili as supporters of the planned mutiny. Kobaladze, Gvaladze, and the Mukhrovani battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel Mamuka Gorgiashvili, as well as dozens of military personnel and civilians were arrested by the police "in connection with the Mukhrovani incident". Kharkharashvili and Tevzadze have rejected any links with the plot. Two other former army officers, Koba Otanadze and Zaza Mushkudiani, are wanted.
Later that day Gia Karkarashvili released video footage showing him talking with Koba Melikidze who allegedly was trying to persuade him to take part in the mutiny. The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs expressed its gratitude to Karkarashvili for information provided by him as it helped to arrest Melikidze and prevent an assassination attempt on Vano Merabishvili
.
On May, 6, Georgian authorities stepped back from accusations of an assassination plot against Mikheil Saakashvili and allegations of Russian support of the mutiny. At this stage, Georgian authorities claimed the army mutiny was mainly aimed at disrupting NATO exercises starting on May 6, 2009. Saakashvili's official site states the mutiny was inspired by a group of disgruntled Georgian army officers.
The principal suspects – Gia Krialashvili, Koba Otanadze, and Levan Amiridze – remained at large after the Mukhrovani incident. On May 20, 2009, Krialashvili was killed, and Otanadze and Amiridze were wounded and delivered to hospital in a shootout with police at the outskirts of Tbilisi.
, said that Moscow had been accustomed to ridiculous accusations from Georgia.
Mutiny
Mutiny is a conspiracy among members of a group of similarly situated individuals to openly oppose, change or overthrow an authority to which they are subject...
by a Georgian Army tank battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
based in Mukhrovani
Mukhrovani
Mukhrovani is a village in Kakheti, Georgia, within which is a military base involved in the 2009 Georgian troop mutiny and an earlier mutiny by 60 soldiers on December 20, 2004...
, Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
, 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) east of the capital Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
on 5 May 2009. It is not yet known how many soldiers took part. Later that day, the Georgian Ministry of Interior announced that the mutineers had surrendered. Some of its leaders, including the battalion's commander, were arrested; others managed to escape. The mutiny broke out after the government announced that it had uncovered what it claimed was a Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n-backed plot to destabilize Georgia and assassinate President
President of Georgia
The President of Georgia is the head of state, supreme commander-in-chief and holder of the highest office within the Government of Georgia. Executive power is split between the President and the Prime Minister, who is the head of government...
Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili is a Georgian politician, the third and current President of Georgia and leader of the United National Movement Party.Involved in the national politics since 1995, Saakashvili became president on 25 January 2004 after President Eduard Shevardnadze resigned in a November 2003...
. Later, Georgian authorities retracted their accusations of an assassination plot and allegations of Russian support.
Background
Georgia has been affected by unrest since the 2008 South Ossetia war
2008 South Ossetia war
The 2008 South Ossetia War or Russo-Georgian War was an armed conflict in August 2008 between Georgia on one side, and Russia and separatist governments of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on the other....
.
Since April 2009, protests
2009 Georgian demonstrations
The 2009 Georgian demonstrations were a mass rally by an ad-hoc coalition of opposition parties in Georgia against the government of President Mikheil Saakashvili. Thousands of people demonstrated, mainly in Tbilisi, starting on 9 April 2009, demanding Saakashvili's resignation. On the first day of...
have called for the resignation of the Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili. In March, nine members of the political party Democratic Movement – United Georgia
Democratic Movement – United Georgia
Democratic Movement – United Georgia is a centre-right political party in Georgia chaired by Nino Burjanadze; it was founded on 24 November 2008.The party is currently in opposition to the government led by Mikheil Saakashvili and his United National Movement...
were arrested after allegedly purchasing automatic weapons ahead of more anti-government demonstrations, a claim described by its leader as "absurd". Several senior government figures recently defected to the opposition, claiming Saakashvili started an unwinnable war that left the breakaway regions of South Ossetia
South Ossetia
South Ossetia or Tskhinvali Region is a disputed region and partly recognized state in the South Caucasus, located in the territory of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast within the former Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic....
and Abkhazia
Abkhazia
Abkhazia is a disputed political entity on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus.Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia or Apsny...
further in Russian control. In May 2009, Russia decided to take control of South Ossetia's border with Georgia.
The mutiny took place a day before the planned NATO exercises in Georgia. NATO drills were condemned by Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, which referred to them as an "attempt to cheer up the Saakashvili regime".
The mutiny
The mutiny erupted on the morning of 5 May, after a Georgian Army tank battalion stationed in MukhrovaniMukhrovani
Mukhrovani is a village in Kakheti, Georgia, within which is a military base involved in the 2009 Georgian troop mutiny and an earlier mutiny by 60 soldiers on December 20, 2004...
, 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) from the Georgian capital of Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
, began to disobey orders.
According to the mutineers statement, circulated by local media, they were not planning any military action, and urging for dialogue between the government and the opposition during ongoing political crisis
2009 Georgian demonstrations
The 2009 Georgian demonstrations were a mass rally by an ad-hoc coalition of opposition parties in Georgia against the government of President Mikheil Saakashvili. Thousands of people demonstrated, mainly in Tbilisi, starting on 9 April 2009, demanding Saakashvili's resignation. On the first day of...
. Colonel Mamuka Gorgishvili, commander of the Mukhrovani Tank Battalion, stated: "Watching the country being torn apart by the current standoff is unbearable. There is a possibility of this standoff turning violent". Police then barred reporters from approaching the base.
According to the Minister of Defense, Vasil Sikharulidze
Vasil Sikharulidze
Vasil Sikharulidze is a Georgian diplomat and politician. He has been foreign affairs advisor to the President of Georgia since August 27, 2009...
, the plotters' minimum goal was to undermine the NATO military exercises beginning this week in Georgia. Sikharulidze also mentioned to the Rustavi 2
Rustavi 2
Rustavi 2 Broadcasting Company , better known as Rustavi 2, is the most successful private television broadcasting company in Georgia. The Rustavi, based in Tbilisi, was founded in 1994 in the town of Rustavi. It is a privately owned free to air terrestrial broadcaster that currently reaches around...
television that the rebellion was also "an attempt of a military coup." In response to the mutiny, the Georgian Army deployed troops, military police, helicopters, and 30 tanks and armored vehicles, alongside Georgian Police units, some equipped with armored vehicles, to the base. In a televised address, the President of Georgia said the mutineers had been given a deadline to surrender. Although not specifying when the deadline would expire, he did say that an order "to act appropriately" has been given out to the law enforcement agencies if the negotiations would fail. President Saakashvili also suggested that the mutiny was part of a wider Russian-orchestrated plan to disrupt the upcoming NATO military exercises "Cooperative Longbow - Cooperative Lancer 09
Cooperative 09
Cooperative 09 or more commonly Cooperative Longbow/Cooperative Lancer 09 is the name of NATO military exercise held in Georgia within the framework of Partnership for Peace, Mediterranean Dialogue and Istanbul Cooperation Initiative programmes from May 6 until June 3, 2009. Exercises were...
" in Georgia, scheduled to start on 6 May and Georgia’s joining with EU's Eastern Partnership
Eastern Partnership
The Eastern Partnership is a project which was initiated by the European Union . It was presented by the foreign minister of Poland with assistance from Sweden at a the EU's General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels on 26 May 2008...
. The soldiers at Mukhrovani quickly surrendered after Saakashvili entered the base accompanied by heavily armed bodyguards to negotiate with the mutineers. After their surrender, the mutineers were disarmed, and Georgian military police removed the mutineers from the base in buses. Almost three dozen mutineers were arrested, and according to some reports, their relatives were detained and tortured. However, three of the mutiny's organizers fled, sparking a manhunt. On May 21, the suspects were found by Police leaving Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
in a minivan. One was shot dead, and two others were wounded and arrested. According to Georgian authorities, the suspects ignored police orders to stop and began shooting, prompting the police officers to return fire. 21 of the mutiny plotters were put tried. The last trials concluded on 11 January 2010. Colonel Koba Otanadze was given 29 years in prison, while Rangers' Battalion Commander Levan Amiridze was given 28 years, and Tank Battalion Commander Shota Gorgiashvili was given 19 years. All three had been charged with attempting to overthrow the government. National Guard Commander Koba Kobaladze was sentenced to eight months and six days imprisonment for the illegal purchase and possession of weapons. The remaining defendants were tried for various crimes including disobedience and illegal weapons possetion, and given sentences ranging from three to fifteen years of imprisonment.
Military coup attempt suspicion
The Georgian Interior Ministry has expressed concerns about a large scale military mutiny that was to be planned in the Georgian ArmyMilitary of Georgia
The Georgian Armed Forces , is the name of the unified armed forces of Georgia. The Georgian military is a defence force consisting of the Georgian Land Forces, Georgian Air Force and a paramilitary organization Georgian National Guard...
by some former military officials, who were in coordination with Russia. Shota Utiashvili, head of the information and analytical department of the Georgian Interior Ministry, said that the mutiny seems to be coordinated with Russia and aimed at minimum thwarting NATO military exercises and maximum organizing full-scale military mutiny in the country. Later, Georgian authorities retracted accusations of Russian support.
Aftermath
On May 5, 2009, the Interior Ministry of Georgia released video footage, recorded apparently with a body-worn covert camera and showing a man, purportedly the retired major Gia Gvaladze, talking to several persons whose faces were blurred in tape and naming several former senior military and security officials, including David TevzadzeDavid Tevzadze
David Tevzadze is a retired Georgian lieutenant general who was the country’s Minister of Defense from April 1998 to February 2004.- Education and academic career :...
, Jemal Gakhokidze, Koba Kobaladze
Koba Kobaladze
Koba Kobaladze is a retired major-general of the Georgian army who served on top military posts early in the 2000s. On May 5, 2009, he was arrested by the Georgian Police on charges of plotting an army mutiny.-Military career:...
, and Gia Karkarashvili as supporters of the planned mutiny. Kobaladze, Gvaladze, and the Mukhrovani battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel Mamuka Gorgiashvili, as well as dozens of military personnel and civilians were arrested by the police "in connection with the Mukhrovani incident". Kharkharashvili and Tevzadze have rejected any links with the plot. Two other former army officers, Koba Otanadze and Zaza Mushkudiani, are wanted.
Later that day Gia Karkarashvili released video footage showing him talking with Koba Melikidze who allegedly was trying to persuade him to take part in the mutiny. The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs expressed its gratitude to Karkarashvili for information provided by him as it helped to arrest Melikidze and prevent an assassination attempt on Vano Merabishvili
Vano Merabishvili
Ivane Merabishvili is a Georgian politician who has served as the country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs since December 18, 2004...
.
On May, 6, Georgian authorities stepped back from accusations of an assassination plot against Mikheil Saakashvili and allegations of Russian support of the mutiny. At this stage, Georgian authorities claimed the army mutiny was mainly aimed at disrupting NATO exercises starting on May 6, 2009. Saakashvili's official site states the mutiny was inspired by a group of disgruntled Georgian army officers.
The principal suspects – Gia Krialashvili, Koba Otanadze, and Levan Amiridze – remained at large after the Mukhrovani incident. On May 20, 2009, Krialashvili was killed, and Otanadze and Amiridze were wounded and delivered to hospital in a shootout with police at the outskirts of Tbilisi.
Domestic reactions
- Politicians
-
- The Georgian opposition has expressed its doubts on the mutiny backgrounds and actual happening. One of the opposition leaders, David GamkrelidzeDavid GamkrelidzeDavid Gamkrelidze or Davit Gamqrelidze , is a Georgian politician, Leader of the New Rights Party of Georgia, Member of Parliament since 1999, Member of Committee for Defense and Security, Chairman of the Centre-Right Opposition Group in the Parliament of Georgia...
claimed that the event could have been an inside job of the Georgian authorities to draw the attention away from the anti-government protests in Georgia2009 Georgian demonstrationsThe 2009 Georgian demonstrations were a mass rally by an ad-hoc coalition of opposition parties in Georgia against the government of President Mikheil Saakashvili. Thousands of people demonstrated, mainly in Tbilisi, starting on 9 April 2009, demanding Saakashvili's resignation. On the first day of...
. Irakli AlasaniaIrakli AlasaniaIrakli Alasania is a Georgian politician and former diplomat. He was Georgia’s Ambassador to the United Nations from September 11, 2006, until December 4, 2008. His previous assignments include Chairman of the Government of Abkhazia and the President of Georgia’s aide in the Georgian-Abkhaz talks...
, leader of the opposition Alliance for Georgia, said he would not make any political assessment, because of lack of information.
- The Georgian opposition has expressed its doubts on the mutiny backgrounds and actual happening. One of the opposition leaders, David Gamkrelidze
-
- In May 2009, Givi TargamadzeGivi TargamadzeGivi Targamadze is a Georgian politician . Targamadze is the chairman of Defense and Security Committee of Parliament of Georgia and one of the leaders of United National Movement....
, senior member of the Parliament of GeorgiaParliament of GeorgiaParliament of Georgia is the supreme legislature of Georgia. It is unicameral and has 150 members, known as deputies, from which 75 members are proportional representatives and 75 are elected through single-member district plurality system, representing their constituencies...
for the ruling United National Movement party accused Alexander Ebralidze, a Russian tycoon of Georgian origin, of being behind the 2009 Georgian attempted mutiny with the aim of “at least to trigger unrest in Georgia” or “at maximum to pave the way for entry of the Russian occupation forces in Tbilisi.”
- In May 2009, Givi Targamadze
- Military experts – The rebellion could be linked with plans to use troops to end opposition roadblocks2009 Georgian demonstrationsThe 2009 Georgian demonstrations were a mass rally by an ad-hoc coalition of opposition parties in Georgia against the government of President Mikheil Saakashvili. Thousands of people demonstrated, mainly in Tbilisi, starting on 9 April 2009, demanding Saakashvili's resignation. On the first day of...
paralysing Tbilisi, with some officers refusing to participate. This version "chimes with" military sources information, a senior Western diplomat confirmed.
Foreign reactions
– The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied any Russian involvement after the Georgian accusations of interfering in Georgian domestic affairs. The Russian Federation's envoy to NATO, Dmitry RogozinDmitry Rogozin
Dmitry Olegovich Rogozin is a well-known Russian diplomat and popular politician, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia. In January, 2008, he became Russia's ambassador to NATO. He was a leader of the Rodina party until it merged with other similar Russian parties to form the...
, said that Moscow had been accustomed to ridiculous accusations from Georgia.
-
- Russian special services – the unnamed source in Russian special services, cited by ITAR-TASS news agency, called allegations of Russian involvement “delirium and agony on Saakashvili's regime’s part”. – The United States Department of DefenseUnited States Department of DefenseThe United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
has announced that the situation in Georgia which took place earlier on May 5 is probably an isolated incident. The press secretary of the Pentagon Bryan Whitman added that the United States is still analyzing the situation. He also stated he did not have any information on Russian involvement in the mutiny.
- Russian special services – the unnamed source in Russian special services, cited by ITAR-TASS news agency, called allegations of Russian involvement “delirium and agony on Saakashvili's regime’s part”. – The United States Department of Defense