Defense Minister: Incident with Protesting Servicemen Over

Incoming Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili said that the ?incident? involving dozens of servicemen from the Internal Troops is ?over,? adding, however, that an investigation is in process.

About 60 servicemen of the Internal Troops deserted their military unit in Mukhrovani, outside Tbilisi, and held a protest rally in front of the Ombudsman?s office in Tbilisi on December 20, demanding better social conditions in the army.

?The Mukhrovani incident is over at the moment, but an investigation is in process to find out the details of the case. I will meet these soldiers and I will talk tough with them,? Irakli Okruashvili said in an interview with the Rustavi 2 television later on December 20.

Irakli Okruashvili, the former Interior Minister who is set to become the Defense Minister in Georgia?s new cabinet, said ?more ideological work? should be carried out with the soldiers.

?They must understand that they have to stand cold winter and any conditions in the army,? he added.

Currently, the servicemen who protested on December 20 are in one of the military units in Tbilisi.