Putin warns Georgia over spying row

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Wednesday that he would not stand for the provocation and blackmail that was being used against his country by Georgia.

He made the comments in reference to Russia's dispute with the Caucasus nation over its detention of Russian officers, who were later released.

"I would not advise anybody to speak to Russia in the future using the language of provocation and blackmail," Putin said at a meeting in the Kremlin with leaders of parliamentary factions, the Interfax news agency reported.

The president thanked lawmakers for "their support of measures being taken by the executive branch aimed at protecting the rights, dignity and lives of our citizens."

"National consensus on the fundamental international issues is one of the major foundations of Russia's foreign policy course," he said.

The arrest of four Russian officers in Georgia on spying charges last week triggered strong protests from Russia, with Putin publicly denouncing it as "an act of state terrorism."

Moscow slapped sweeping economic sanctions on Tbilisi, cutting postal, air, road, rail and sea links with Georgia. Earlier, Russia had recalled its ambassador from Georgia and evacuated some Russian personnel.

Russia cut military ties with Georgia on Tuesday and said it would only remain in contact with Georgia on matters regarding the implementation of agreements on the withdrawal of two Russian military bases there.

Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, speaking during a visit to Kyrgyzstan, said on Wednesday that Russia might speed up the withdrawal of its military bases from Georgia.

"Concerning the Russian group of forces in the Transcaucasus, they will definitely not be augmented. We'll remove them as scheduled, and possibly at an accelerated pace," Ivanov said, quoted by Interfax.

The spying row has added to an already tense relationship between Russia and Georgia. Ties have been strained by the Georgian leadership's bid to join NATO and a Russian ban on imports of Georgian wines.

In a telephone conversation on Monday with U.S. President George W. Bush, Putin also warned against intervention by any third party country.

"Any action by third party countries, that the Georgian leadership could interpret as support for its destructive policy, is unacceptable and constitutes a danger to peace and stability in the region," the Kremlin quoted him as saying in a statement.

Source: Xinhua