Interior Minister Says Allegations on Coup Attempt Absurd

(Tbilisi February 6, 2003. Civil Georgia) – Interior Minister speaking in live broadcast of Rustavi 2 TV channel on February 5 said that he “even does not want to make any comment” regarding the accusations that together with the State Minister and some other top officials he was plotting a coup against President Shevardnadze.

Some of the leading opposition leaders made statements recently that Interior Minister Narchemashvili, State Minister Jorbenadze and the leader of the pro-governmental Citizens’ Union of Georgia Parliamentary Faction Vitali Khazaradze plotted a coup.

Chairman of the Tbilisi City Council Mikheil Saakashvili of National Movement and one of the leaders of the New Rights party Levan Gachechiladze claim that Jorbenadze intended to replace Shevardnadze on the post of the President.

Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze also said that she knows that “there are some rumors regarding the coup attempt.”

Interior Minister Koba Narchemashvili stated “everyone who makes this kind of irresponsible statement will be accountable before the law.”

At the government’s meeting on February 5 President Shevardnadze ordered the General Prosecutor’s Office to investigate sources of rumors on possible coup attempt and report National Security Council on result of the probe in the nearest days.

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