Georgia Rejects to Extradite Defector Russian Soldier

Georgia has formally turned down a request by the Russian general prosecutor’s office on extradition of Alexandr Glukhov, a Russian soldier who deserted his military unit in breakaway South Ossetia and requested asylum in Georgia in January.

The Russian general prosecutor’s office charged Glukhov with desertion and formally requested his extradition in a letter sent to the Georgian side via Swiss diplomats on June 1. Switzerland represents Russia’s diplomatic interests in Georgia, as well as Georgia’s diplomatic interests in Russia amid cut diplomatic ties between the two countries after the August war.

The Georgian Justice Ministry said in a statement on July 7, that at the time of the Russia’s request Glukhov had already been granted with refugee status by Georgia and it had refused in extradition citing 1951 Geneva Convention.

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