Ukrainian rescued from Dniester seeks asylum in Moldova

A Ukrainian citizen hospitalized after an encounter with Ukrainian border guards on the Dniester has requested asylum in Moldova, TVR Moldova reported, citing the Moldovan Border Police press service.

The incident occurred on October 15 near Holosnita in Soroca district. According to the broadcaster, the 49-year-old man was trying to swim across the river when two Ukrainian border guards in a boat pursued and beat him. Residents on the Moldovan bank pulled him from the water. He was admitted to hospital in Soroca with a concussion.

The border guards who crossed the frontier were subsequently handed over to Ukrainian authorities under a bilateral agreement. Their weapons and boat were seized as part of a criminal investigation in Moldova.

Ukraine's State Border Guard Service opened an internal investigation. Its spokesman, Andriy Demchenko, said the man had resisted detention and that shallow water and an engine malfunction had carried the boat to the Moldovan bank.