Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MOSCOW196
2009-01-28 15:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:
RUSSIAN SOLDIER FLEES TO GEORGIA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0017 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHMO #0196 0281519 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 281519Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1667 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 000196
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF MOPS PBTS RU GG
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN SOLDIER FLEES TO GEORGIA
REF: TBILISI 148
Classified By: Political M/C Alice G. Wells. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 000196
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF MOPS PBTS RU GG
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN SOLDIER FLEES TO GEORGIA
REF: TBILISI 148
Classified By: Political M/C Alice G. Wells. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) On January 27 Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman
Colonel Aleksandr Drobyshevskiy announced that Georgian
special services had captured Junior Sergeant Aleksandr
Glukhov of the Russian army the previous night (reftel).
Drobyshevskiy said that Glukhov's statements that he fled his
post in the Akhalgori Valley in South Ossetia and sought
asylum in Georgia due to the poor living conditions he
endured were made "under physical or moral duress." He added
that "Russia demands Glukhov's immediate release."
2. (C) Analysts here discounted Drobyshevskiy's argument and
told us they were not surprised by Glukhov's decision to run
away. Executive Secretary of the Union of Soldiers' Mothers
Committees Valentina Melnikova told us that this is a
"standard story that represents nothing special." Numerous
Russian soldiers desert and run to foreign countries every
year, she said. While her organization has not been
contacted regarding this particular case, she said that
soldiers' living conditions in South Ossetia were known to be
poor, with many soldiers living without heat or hot water.
(Note: Glukhov stated in an interview that he had not been
able to bathe in over a month.) She labeled the idea that
Georgian special services would kidnap a Russian soldier
"stupid."
3. (C) Comment: To have a soldier desert and seek asylum in
Georgia is a true embarrassment for the Russian military.
The difficulties faced by Russian soldiers are well known,
and so we therefore see no reason to doubt Glukhov's version
of events. Because of political pressure to present this as
a "kidnapping," the Russian military may avoid the
resignations that should flow from this debacle. End Comment.
BEYRLE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF MOPS PBTS RU GG
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN SOLDIER FLEES TO GEORGIA
REF: TBILISI 148
Classified By: Political M/C Alice G. Wells. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) On January 27 Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman
Colonel Aleksandr Drobyshevskiy announced that Georgian
special services had captured Junior Sergeant Aleksandr
Glukhov of the Russian army the previous night (reftel).
Drobyshevskiy said that Glukhov's statements that he fled his
post in the Akhalgori Valley in South Ossetia and sought
asylum in Georgia due to the poor living conditions he
endured were made "under physical or moral duress." He added
that "Russia demands Glukhov's immediate release."
2. (C) Analysts here discounted Drobyshevskiy's argument and
told us they were not surprised by Glukhov's decision to run
away. Executive Secretary of the Union of Soldiers' Mothers
Committees Valentina Melnikova told us that this is a
"standard story that represents nothing special." Numerous
Russian soldiers desert and run to foreign countries every
year, she said. While her organization has not been
contacted regarding this particular case, she said that
soldiers' living conditions in South Ossetia were known to be
poor, with many soldiers living without heat or hot water.
(Note: Glukhov stated in an interview that he had not been
able to bathe in over a month.) She labeled the idea that
Georgian special services would kidnap a Russian soldier
"stupid."
3. (C) Comment: To have a soldier desert and seek asylum in
Georgia is a true embarrassment for the Russian military.
The difficulties faced by Russian soldiers are well known,
and so we therefore see no reason to doubt Glukhov's version
of events. Because of political pressure to present this as
a "kidnapping," the Russian military may avoid the
resignations that should flow from this debacle. End Comment.
BEYRLE