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Alleged Georgian Army Defector Shown On Russian TV

June 19, 2009

MOSCOW (RFE/RL) -- The interrogation of a Georgian Army officer who reportedly defected to Russia, was shown on Russian television on June 18, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports.

Alik Bjania told his questioners that he is a lieutenant in the Georgian Army and said he crossed from Georgia proper into the breakaway republic of Abkhazia in May and asked for political asylum in Russia.

He added that he is from the Georgian town of Ochamchira and has a brother. He claimed that he never took part in any military operations and used to serve in coastal patrol in the port city of Poti.

A Georgian Defense Ministry official said that a man named Alik Bjania had served in Georgia's coastal patrol as a reserve officer but he did not confirm that he is the same man in Abkhazia.

Russia's Federal Immigration service gave Bjania a document confirming that his request for refugee status is being considered.

Earlier this year, Russian Army Sergeant Aleksandr Glukhov defected into Georgia from South Ossetia, Georgia's second breakaway republic, and asked for political asylum.

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/Alleged_Georgian_Army_Defector_Shown_On_Russian_TV/1757982.html

Copyright (c) 2009. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.