The State Security Committee of South Ossetia, in cooperation with the Border Service of the Federal Security Service of Russia, prevented the attempt by a group of citizens of Georgia, the Republic of South Ossetia and the Russian Federation to organize a channel for the illegal movement of Vladimir Mamardashvili, a serviceman of the Russian Defense Ministry who deserted from the special military operation zone, across the South Ossetian-Georgian border, the KGB press service reported.
"In particular, it was established that on December 23, a group of citizens of South Ossetia and Russia assisted in the arrival of Mamardashvili (born in 1999) in South Ossetia, his temporary secret placement with fictitious registration in one of the private hotels in Tskhinval and delivery on December 24 to the state border of the Republic with Georgia with the purpose of further departure to the territory of the neighboring state," the press service has noted.
They noted that "immediately near the border, Mamardashvili was awaited by the Georgian citizens Alexei Mamulia, born in 1972, and Vano Dzhapiashvili, born in 1974, who, in turn, illegally crossed into the territory of South Ossetia from Georgia and planned to return back along the same route together with the deserting serviceman."
"On the same day, while committing the said criminal acts, Mamardashvili, Mamulia and Dzhapiashvili were detained by the Republic's border authorities," the department has noted.
The KGB opened a criminal case against the detained Georgian citizens Mamulia and Dzhapiashvili on the grounds of a crime under Part 3 of Article 322 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation "Illegal crossing of the State border by a group of persons by prior conspiracy."
"The Tskhinval City Court chose a preventive measure in the form of detention for the duration of the preliminary investigation.
A citizen of the Russian Federation, a deserter serviceman Mamardashvili will be handed over to the Russian law enforcement agencies," the press service has clarified.
The KGB has emphasized that aiding deserters and draft dodgers during a special military operation conducted by the Russian Federation is a criminal offense.
"All possible directions of penetration of violators of the state border of the Republic are in the control zones and sectors of influence of the border forces of South Ossetia," the Committee has warned.
