A Russian military cadet armed with an assault rifle briefly took four people hostage in the southwest Siberian city Omsk on Friday following an argument with his girlfriend, military officials said.
A second-year student of the Omsk tank college, Denis Gapopenko, was on sentry duty when he left his post and took a taxi to his girlfriend's place. When he arrived, he took his girlfriend and three other people in the apartment hostage, local police said earlier on Friday.
"A preliminary investigation showed Denis Gapopenko's motive was an argument with his girlfriend," said Col. Oleg Yushkov, spokesman for the land forces commander.
Russian media reports said Gapopenko rushed to the city after learning his girlfriend was going to Italy to work. He was reported to have forced the taxi driver to speed to the city by pointing a gun at him.
The sentry guards were unable to stop him leaving his post, but reported the incident to the officer on duty.
Police cordoned off the house while psychologists, later joined by Gapopenko's father, negotiated with the young man. He initially let two hostages leave and released the other two - including his girlfriend - some time later.
The cadet, who did not make any demands, is now being investigated on desertion charges, which provide for up to 10 years in prison.
MOSCOW, December 18 (RIA Novosti)
