Georgia cuts ties with Russia

2008-09-02 19:27

Tbilisi - Georgia on Tuesday formally broke diplomatic relations with Russia following its occupation of parts of the country and recognition of two rebel regions, the Foreign Ministry said.

"The Russian Federation's envoy in Georgia, Andrei Smaga, has been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and handed a note informing the Russian Federation that diplomatic relations between Georgia and Russia are severed," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nato Chikovani.

"From this moment, there are no more diplomatic relations between the two countries," she said.

The Foreign Ministry had announced on Friday it was cutting diplomatic ties with Russia but maintaining consular relations.

The move came after Russia recognised two breakaway Georgian regions - Abkhazia and South Ossetia - as independent countries. Moscow's recognition of the two regions drew condemnation from Georgia and many Western countries.

Russia sent tanks and troops into Georgian territory in what officials say was a response to a Georgian offensive on August 7 to retake South Ossetia.

Moscow withdrew the bulk of its forces from Georgia under a French-brokered ceasefire agreement, but thousands of Russian troops remain deployed in the two rebel regions and in a buffer zone.

- AFP