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Brother Of Alleged Georgian Mutiny Mastermind Beaten In Detention


Georgia's human rights ombudsman, Sozar Subari
Georgia's human rights ombudsman, Sozar Subari
Ten days after the reported mutiny by members of a Georgian tank battalion at the Mukhrovani military base east of Tbilisi, the number of suspects detained or charged remains unclear, the daily "Rezonansi" says.

Initial reports said that 10 servicemen were detained and a further 50 were being questioned in connection with the incident.

On May 13, police arrested Nugzar Otanadze, whose brother Koba has been identified by the Interior Ministry as one of the masterminds behind the alleged revolt. Nugzar Otanadze was formally charged on May 14 with resisting arrest and remanded on May 15 in pre-trial detention for two months.

Georgia's human rights ombudsman, Sozar Subari, told journalists in Tbilisi on May 13 that five men detained in connection with the insurrection, including Nugzar Otanadze, have been beaten or tortured while in detention. He demanded an official investigation.

The Interior Ministry responded by saying that Nugzar Otanadze's injuries were sustained when he resisted arrest. It declined to comment on the condition of the other four men.

Also on May 13, the Georgian Interior Ministry raised from 50,000 laris ($30,000) to 200,000 laris ($121,000) the reward for information concerning Koba Otanadze's whereabouts.

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"Watchdog" is a blog with a singular mission -- to monitor the latest developments concerning human rights, civil society, and press freedom. We'll pay particular attention to reports concerning countries in RFE/RL's broadcast region.

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