Nashi Movement Protests In Moscow For Soldier's Return From Georgia
Nashi
February 13, 2009
MOSCOW -- The pro-Kremlin movement Nashi has held a demonstration in front of the Georgian Embassy in Moscow to demand the return of a Russian soldier from Georgia, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports.
The protesters called for the immediate return of Sergeant Aleksandr Glukhov, who left his Russian military unit in South Ossetia in January and entered Tbilisi-controlled Georgian territory asking for political asylum.
Glukhov's mother has been in Russia-controlled South Ossetia since February 9, but has not been able to meet with her son yet.
Russian authorities assert that Glukhov might have been kidnapped by Georgian troops.
However, Shota Utiashvili of Georgia's Interior Affairs Ministry told RFE/RL that Glukhov is free to go wherever he wants. He said the defector does not want to go to Russian-controlled South Ossetia, fearing arrest.