GEORGIA: UPDATE ON DEFECTION OF RUSSIAN SOLDIER

C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 001237

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL RU GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: UPDATE ON DEFECTION OF RUSSIAN SOLDIER

REF: TBILISI 1222

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN F. TEFFT FOR REASONS 1.4 B AND D


1. (C) Summary. The Russian soldier who requested asylum
from Georgia met with his family in Tbilisi on July 4 and 5.
EUMM, UNHCR, along with the Swiss (as the protective power
for Russia in Georgia),Georgians and Russians, coordinated
these meetings between Artemiev and his family. Artemiev's
parents were accompanied to Tbilisi by Russian Commander in
South Ossetia Colonel Tarasov (not public, do not disclose),
who in turn was escorted by the Gori police chief. After an
initial meeting with his parents on July 4, Artemiev decided
to return to Russia, but the next day he changed his mind and
decided to continue the asylum process. Artemiev is
currently staying in a private residence in Tbilisi instead
of the regular Ministry of Refugees and Accommodations (MRA)
housing, mainly to avoid press stakeouts. EUMM, UNHCR and
the Swiss commended all parties, especially the Georgians,
for handling the situation fairly. End summary.


2. (C) On July 4, Artemiev's parents, accompanied by local
commander of Russian forces in South Ossetia Colonel Tarasov,
arrived in Tbilisi for a meeting with their son. According
to our interlocutors, Artemiev refused to meet with Russian
officials, including Tarasov. In the end, the soldier met
privately with his parents for about four hours. At the end
of the meeting, Artemiev declared he was ready to return to
Russia. One of the mediators present convinced him to stay
for another night before making any decisions, and UNHCR
advised Artemiev that if he did choose to go back, he would
need to sign a standard document declaring he was leaving of
his own free will.


3. (C) Artemiev spent the night at an MRA apartment with his
mother, while his father stayed at the Russian interest
section. The next day, Artemiev stated that he wanted to
stay in Georgia and continue the asylum process. The
Russians made one last attempt to change his mind, asking him
to meet privately with his father, but he refused to do so,
saying that he did not want to be influenced in his decision.
The Swiss Ambassador and the EUMM reported that the parents
are divorced and Artemiev had not seen his father for seven
years. According to the Swiss, the Russians accepted the
outcome.


4. (C) UNHCR is providing funding to MRA to accommodate
Artemiev in a private residence to mitigate Artemiev being
hounded by the press and because normal MRA housing is full.
According to EUMM, the Government of Georgia will provide
Artemiev with housing and a stipend for four months while the
case is adjudicated, and UNHCR will continue to monitor the
situation. The Swiss Embassy, in their role as
representative of Russian interests in Georgia, continues to
assist with communication between the Georgians and Russians.
TEFFT