(CNN) -- Georgian authorities foiled an attempted army mutiny that they believe was designed to disrupt planned NATO exercises in the former Soviet republic, the country's interior ministry said Tuesday. Georgian troops take part in military exercises in January. They are to participate in NATO maneuvers this week. About 500 troops at a military base outside the capital, Tbilisi, were involved in the rebellion, said Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili. He said it was quickly brought under control, and the government reported a few hours later that the base was calm. Initial investigations suggest that Russia, Georgia's northern neighbor and former ruler, may have had a hand in the mutiny, Utiashvili said.
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NEW: Georgian authorities release recording of man saying "Russia will come"
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Russia denies involvement, accuses Tbilisi of "yet another anti-Russian prank"
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Authorities believe mutiny intended to disrupt NATO exercises this week in Georgia
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Russia says it disagrees with NATO plans to conduct exercises
@placeholder claimed that Georgia had secret recordings of the mutineers saying they had "full Russian support."
Utiashvili claimed that @placeholder had secret recordings of the mutineers saying they had "full Russian support."