Unidentified gunmen kidnapped the father of a LUKoil vice president from his home in Georgia, Georgian officials said Tuesday. The attackers abducted Sadi Sharifov on Sunday night in the village of Pankiani, about 80 kilometers southwest of Tbilisi, Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Paata Gomelauri said. Sharifov, 65, is the father of a LUKoil vice president, said Maya Musidze, an Interior Ministry spokeswoman. LUKoil confirmed one of its vice presidents is named Vagit Sharifov. The executive oversees refined products sales. "There is no connection to the company's activities in this [kidnapping]," a LUKoil spokesman said. Gomelauri said the gunmen also robbed the elder Sharifov's home, taking $400 and pieces of gold jewelry. Their getaway car was later found in the village of Kumysi, about 60 kilometers southeast of Tbilisi. The kidnappers have not tried to make contact, Gomelauri said. The elder Sharifov was also kidnapped from his home a decade ago and released after 12 days without a ransom being paid, Interfax reported. It was the second kidnapping connected to LUKoil this year. LUKoil CFO Sergei Kukura was abducted Sept. 12 and released 13 days later. Georgian State Security Minister Valery Khaburdzaniya warned Monday that a gang of kidnappers was planning to abduct an "influential" person. He was apparently unaware that Sharifov had already been kidnapped. (The Associated Press)