UNM members see nothing illegal in controversial video

Georgia’s former authorities and members of the United National Movement party have clarified ex-minister Vano Merabishvili’s unclear comment "I need two dead bodies” sounded in video footage leaked on the internet last night.

Tbilisi’s disgraced Mayor Gigi Ugulava considered rebels should be "severely punished” and it was the approved method in every case.

"It was a military coup organized by Gia Krialashvili and Koba Otanadze, who had done the same in Shevardnadze’s period when the NATO delegation arrived in Georgia,” Ugulava said.

"As for the term "two dead bodies”, co-ordinator of the special operation Vano Merabishvili ordered the special force to eliminate the rebels in case of resistance.”

Ugulava mentioned that the injured Otanadze was treated by the government before he was trialed in court sentenced to 29 years of imprisonment.

"If it was an order to eliminate Gia Krialashvili and Koba Otanadze, the latter would not be treated and he would have died,” Ugulava said.

The former Mayor also emphasized that Merabishvili had grammar speech problems, which was why his words sounded controversial.

Ugulava appeared in several images within the video. He claimed he went to Mukhrovani Military Base with ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili but said: "I cannot remember why I have come here”.

UMN member Givi Targamadze believed the former Minister of Internal Affairs meant the arrest of two rivals when he mentioned "two dead bodies”.

"The order of arrest was utterly adequate,” Targamadze said.

"We were faced with a military coup in May of 2009. These rivals were military high officials and it would not be easy to arrest them. They were injured during direct exchange of fire and one of them died.”

According to Targamadze, who was a special operation witness, said the injured man [Koba Otanadze] was taken to hospital.

Targamadze also said it was "the greatest mistake” that the new Government has granted the two survivors with the status of political prisoner.

Akaki Bobokhidze, another UNM member, demanded the investigation to confirm the authenticity of the controversial video.

He said that the special operation was not conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

"There were not two victims during this special operation,”Akaki Bobokhidze said.

"The investigation should reveal the truth. If the video was edited it means that there is a big black spot against Vano Merabishvili. The investigation should also reveal what Vano Merabishvili meant with these words. And if he directly meant the two dead persons, it would be a tragedy for us and especially for Vano Merabishvili.”

Former Secretary of National Security Council Giga Bokeria confirmed that several military high officials were preparing a coup against the democratic state in May 2009.

As for the controversial video, Bokeria declared that he had "no idea” what Merabishvili had meant and "it was not his obligation.”