Another Russian Soldier Deserts to Georgia

Citing abuse and inadequate food, Russian Army Sergeant Dmitri Artyomov has become the second Russian soldier to desert to Georgia since the 2008 Georgia-Russia war, Georgian media reported on July 2.

In a televised interview, Artyomov told journalists that poor living conditions and physical abuse by his superiors had prompted him to abandon his post in the village of Perevi -- a settlement claimed by both Georgia and breakaway South Ossetia -- and to seek asylum in Georgia. "They treated me very badly back at the base. They beat me," Artyomov said.

Georgian officials have not yet stated when Artyomov left his unit.

Artyomov said he understood that another Russian desertee -- Junior Sergeant Alexander Glukhov -- is now living a decent life in Tbilisi, and decided to follow suit. Glukhov, who also was serving in breakaway South Ossetia, was granted Georgian citizenship three days ago. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

Artyomov said that after leaving his unit in Perevi, he hid in the nearby house of a farmer, who gave him food and supplies. Then, with the help of relief organizations, he travelled to Tbilisi where he sought help at the United Nations' office, Rustavi-2 television news reported.

The UN office requested that the Georgian Ministry for Refugees and Settlement assist the runaway solider. "[T]he ministry will take care of Artyomov's accommodation and civil integration," Interpressnews agency quoted a ministry statement.

While the desertions provide easy PR points for Georgia, Russia has also recently claimed a Georgian deserter. Last month, Georgian Coast Guard Lieutenant Alik Bzhania crossed over into breakaway Abkhazia to request political asylum in Russia. In a radio interview with Ekho Moskvy, Bzhania, allegedly dismissed in May for disciplinary problems, claimed that opposition to President Mikheil Saakashvili had motivated his decision.