MOSCOW, January 27 (RIA Novosti) - A Russian NCO has
been captured by Georgian special service personnel in South
Ossetia, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.
Col. Alexander Drobyshevsky said Jr. Sgt. Alexander
Glukhov had been taken to Tbilisi.
The Georgian Interior Ministry said Glukhov had left his
unit over the weekend, surrendered to Georgian police and
requested political asylum.
Drobyshevsky dismissed the Georgian claim as a provocation
and said Russia urged Georgia to release Glukhov immediately.
"Whatever statements Glukhov might have made must have
been given either under physical or moral duress," he said.
The Georgian Interior Ministry has said the Russian
serviceman is to undergo "a course of psychological and medical
rehabilitation," whereupon the question of granting him
political asylum "will be considered without fail."
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