Kerry comments on Georgia mutiny

Senator John F. Kerry issued a statement today in support of the government of the republic of Georgia after what appears to be an isolated mutiny.

“It is our understanding that the mutineers have been apprehended and the situation is now calm. Georgia is an independent, democratic republic and any attempt to change the government of that country through non-democratic means is unacceptable. The Georgian people are committed to live in a sovereign, democratic nation and their will must be respected,” Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement.

According to the Associated Press, Georgia said it had ended a brief mutiny at a military base near the capital and thwarted a plan to disrupt NATO exercises.

The Interior Ministry first declared that the mutiny was part of a Russia-supported plot to overthrow the government, but later backed off and said the plotters were intent mainly on disrupting NATO military exercises set to begin Wednesday, the AP said.

Russia, which fought a brief war with Georgia last year, has criticized the NATO exercises.