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.
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 denied the claim.
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said the troop revolt was aimed at "creating unrest in Georgia, to damage the country's security and democratic system."
