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 More updates on the developments in Georgia:
Global Research reports: President Dmitry Medvedev on Saturday criticized the ongoing NATO war games in Georgia for aggravating tensions instead of improving European security. We cannot but be concerned by the NATO exercises in Georgia," Medvedev told reporters after meeting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. "They are causing problems and tensions, and I believe they can add nothing good to European security."
In the meantime, the relationship between EU and Russia is far from improving, according to the Georgian Daily: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Friday condemned EU moves to strengthen ties with former Soviet states after a summit that failed to smooth out the bloc's tetchy relationship with Moscow.
The BBC reports that a suspect of the mutiny was shot dead: Georgian police have shot dead a man suspected of playing a key role in a mutiny at a military base earlier this month, the interior ministry has said. Gia Krialashvili was killed in a shoot-out with police as they tried to arrest him in a western suburb of Tbilisi, it said. Two other suspects were wounded. All three men have military backgrounds and are suspected of masterminding the brief mutiny at Mukhrovani on 5 May.
St. Petersburg Times writes about Washington's frustration: Signaling U.S. frustration as Washington seeks better relations with Russia, the United States criticized Moscow on Friday for blocking a deployment plan for peace monitors in Georgia. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly urged Moscow to change its stance on keeping monitors from Europe’s top security and human rights watchdog in Georgia. “It is disappointing, and we hope that Russia will reverse its stance,” Kelly told reporters.
Reuters reports more turmoil in the capital: Georgia has cancelled its traditional Independence Day military parade next week to avoid confrontation with protesters camped out on the parade route to demand the president resign, Tbilisi's mayor said. Tensions are running high after almost six weeks of opposition roadblocks and rallies in the capital calling for President Mikheil Saakashvili to quit over his record on democratic rights and last year's disastrous war with Russia.
See also Update 2 and Update 1.
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