TBILISI, Georgia — Georgia’s president, a post-Soviet darling of the Bush administration, was already struggling with a buildup of Russian troops in breakaway territories and an angry opposition movement intent on his ouster. Suddenly, the integrity of the armed forces is in doubt as well.
The short-lived mutiny of a tank battalion Tuesday was another reminder of the instability that has racked Georgia since it was defeated last summer in a war with Russia. President Mikhail Saakashvili rushed to negotiate with the mutineers. And he took to the airwaves to accuse Russia, whose leaders loathe him and bitter oppose his hopes of joining NATO, of trying to organize a coup.
“What happened today is just a signal that the war has not ended yet,” said Alexander Rondeli, president of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies.
The flare of insurrection was over in just a few hours. The commander of the 500-man tank battalion was in custody, the base was calm and the government had turned its attention to circulating a news release describing “the failed military mutiny.” But the uprising further pressurized politics in this small republic in the volatile Caucasus region.
The government accused Russia of orchestrating the uprising in an effort to undermine NATO war games set to begin in Georgia today. But Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili acknowledged in a phone interview that there was no concrete evidence of Russian involvement.
Former special forces commander Gia Gvaladze and Koba Kobaladze, who served as commander of the national guard until February 2004, were arrested and accused of organizing the military uprising.
On Tuesday, some members of the opposition accused Saakashvili’s government of fabricating the coup for propaganda purposes.
