Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TBILISI951
2009-05-21 13:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tbilisi
Cable title:  

GEORGIA: SHOOT OUT WITH AT-LARGE MUTINY SUSPECTS

Tags:  PGOV PREL RU GG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0051
OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHSI #0951 1411338
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 211338Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1607
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 000951 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL RU GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: SHOOT OUT WITH AT-LARGE MUTINY SUSPECTS
LEAVES ONE DEAD, TWO INJURED

REF: A. TBILISI 852

B. TBILISI 857

C. TBILISI 866

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN F. TEFFT, REASON: 1.4 (B,D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 000951

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL RU GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: SHOOT OUT WITH AT-LARGE MUTINY SUSPECTS
LEAVES ONE DEAD, TWO INJURED

REF: A. TBILISI 852

B. TBILISI 857

C. TBILISI 866

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN F. TEFFT, REASON: 1.4 (B,D).

1.(U) SUMMARY: The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MOIA) held
a press conference on May 21 to confirm that the three
suspects that remained at large for their role in the May 5
mutiny at Mukhravani military base (reftels) had been
apprehended or killed. Following a shoot out between the
police and the three in a Tbilisi suburb, Gia Krialashvili
was killed, and two others, Levan Amiridze and Koba Otanadze,
were injured and are now in police custody at a Tbilisi
hospital. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) After the military mutiny was peacefully put down on
May 5, three of the organizers, Krialashvili, Amiridze, and
Otanadze managed to escape into the forest surrounding the
Mukhravani military base near Tbilisi. Since May 5, the
Government has set up police points on specific roads leading
from Georgian into South Ossetian controlled territory, as
well as wanted posters throughout Tbilisi and its outskirts
in hopes of catching the three. The Government also offered
a GEL 200,000 (USD 122,700) reward for information on
Otanadze,s whereabouts, as well as a GEL 50,000 (USD 30,675)
reward for information on the other two. The Georgian
Government believes Otanadze to be one of the key organizers
of the mutiny, and therefore his capture is significant for
the investigation. (Note: Otanadze and Krialashvili, former
military and MOIA officers, also organized the 2001 mutiny
attempt against former President Shevardnadze at the same
Mukhravani base. Amiridze is an active duty colonel in the
Georgian Army. End Note.)


3. (SBU) According to the MOIA,s statement, Krialashvili,
Amiridze and Otanadze put up armed resistance to the police,
which led to the fire fight. Post does not believe that any
police were injured in the fight, but we do not have MOIA
confirmation at this point. Krialashvili was killed in the
fight, while Amiridze and Otanadze are hospitalized in
reportedly stable condition.


4. (C) COMMENT: Since the May 5 event, the government has
focused manpower and resources on capturing those who
remained at-large for their role in the mutiny against the
government. While we do not have additional details of the
firefight at this time, the government undoubtedly hopes that
the capture of Otanadze will help connect the dots on the
planning and attempted execution of the May 5 plot. END
COMMENT.
TEFFT