Georgia: Police Release Coup Conspiracy Tapes

Georgian police on March 24 released secret tapes that purportedly show two activists from a little-known opposition group, the People's Movement to Save Georgia, attempting to buy weapons and discussing plans to overthrow the government.

Malkhaz Gvelukashvili and Lasha Ckhenkeli, who were arrested two days ago, are caught on tape as they speak with arms dealers and their alleged accomplices on mobilizing 3,000 armed men to topple the government through an armed coup on April 9, when a major opposition rally is planned, or later. The two discuss prospects for staging disturbances during the rally, storming parliament and assassinating President Mikheil Saakashvili.

Opposition members have described the tapes as part of a government campaign to scare Georgians away from assembling for the April 9 mass rally, Rustavi-2 television reported.