Russian Army Deserter Prevented From Meeting His Mother
Aleksandr Glukhov
February 10, 2009
TBILISI -- Russian Army deserter Aleksandr Glukhov was unable to meet with his mother today.
Glukhov left his Russian military unit in South Ossetia last month and entered Tbilisi-controlled Georgian territory, asking for political asylum.
His mother arrived in South Ossetia on February 9 and talked to her son by phone.
Their meeting was planned for today, but Shota Utiashvili of Georgia's Interior Affairs Ministry told RFE/RL's Russian Service that Russian authorities did not allow the soldier's mother, Galina Glukhova, to travel to Georgian-controlled territory to meet her son.
Glukhov refuses to leave Georgia, fearing arrest and prosecution.