URGENT: Russia's AWOL soldier in S. Ossetia faces desertion charges

MOSCOW, March 17 (RIA Novosti) - A Russian soldier who abandoned his military unit in South Ossetia and crossed the border into Georgia in January is facing desertion charges, the chief military prosecutor said on Tuesday.

Sergei Fridinsky also said Russia would send Georgia an extradition request for Sgt. Alexander Glukhov in the near future.