A court in Russia's Krasnodar Territory on Wednesday sentenced the son of a former Georgian security minister to three years in prison for the illegal crossing of the border between Abkhazia and Russia.
Givi Kutateladze and his friend Alexander Vepkhvadze were stopped by Russian border guards while crossing the Psou River that divides Russia and Abkhazia in September last year.
Both men have also been recently sentenced in absentia by the Tbilisi City Court to 13 and six years in prison, respectively, for taking part in a fight with Georgian police in a cafe in April last year.
Georgia's Interior Ministry earlier said it would demand the extradition of the alleged criminals.
Meanwhile, Kutateladze reportedly told Russian investigators that Georgia's charges against him had been fabricated for political reasons, and he had asked Russia for asylum.
KRASNODAR, (Southern Russia), January 19 (RIA Novosti)
