Detained Russian Policemen Released

(Tbilisi, August 27 2002, Civil Georgia) Three detained Russian policemen were extradited to Russia according to the decision made by the Ministry of Security Affairs.

Georgian law enforcers detained three Russian policemen – Ugrimov, Blinov and Titchkov – at the entrance of the Pankisi Gorge. According to detainees, they were going to buy a car. Georgian law enforcers found their argument groundless and detained all the three.

Georgian Ministry of Security Affairs requested from the court to detain them for three months.

According to Nika Laliashvili, head of the press-office of the Ministry of Security Affairs, detainees are accused only of violation of visa regime. Thus, they were handed to the Russian side.

A few days ago, Ministry of Security Affairs refused to extradite them to Russia.