MOSCOW. July 2 (Interfax-AVN) - Private Dmitry Artemyev abandoned his unit and crossed into Georgia from South Ossetia on July 1, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Thursday.
"The serviceman crossed the Georgian - South Ossetian border and applied for refuge in Georgia," the ministry said in a statement.
"The Military Department of the North Caucasus Military District is working on establishing the motive and circumstances of the incident. Defense Ministry officials are currently in talks with the Georgian side regarding Private Artemyev's handover to the Russian side," the Defense Ministry said.