10-02-2006, 02:03 PM
New twists in Russian 'spies' row
Russia has suspended all transport links with Georgia, just hours after the former Soviet state tried to defuse a growing diplomatic row between the two countries.
Georgia announced this morning that it would hand over four Russian military officers arrested last week on spying charges to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), an international body that had been mediating between the two sides.
An OSCE spokesman said the men would no longer face charges.
But two hours later Russian news agencies reported that all postal, air, road, rail and sea links with Georgia were being suspended.
There has been no official word from the Russian transport and communications ministries.
Karel De Gucht, the Belgian foreign minister and head of the OSCE, is expected in Tblisi later today.
The crisis erupted when Georgia arrested the men, claiming they were members of a "very dangerous" network that had spied on the military, caused an explosion that had killed three policemen, and was planning a "serious provocation" on Georgian soil.
Georgian officials released a video which they said showed the men discussing military bases with Georgian citizens and exchanging money.
Moscow responded to the arrests last week by recalling its ambassador and evacuating its citizens, with some senior members of parliament urging stronger measures.
Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, described the arrests as "state terrorism", and forces on both side of the border were put on high alert.
Relations have been poor since pro-western Mr Saakashvili was swept to power amid street protests in 2003.
The atmosphere grew more poisoned over the summer as recriminations mounted over the status of two pro-Moscow break-away regions in Georgia and Mr Saakashvili's ambitions to join Nato.
Telegraph.co.uk
Russia has suspended all transport links with Georgia, just hours after the former Soviet state tried to defuse a growing diplomatic row between the two countries.
Georgia announced this morning that it would hand over four Russian military officers arrested last week on spying charges to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), an international body that had been mediating between the two sides.
An OSCE spokesman said the men would no longer face charges.
But two hours later Russian news agencies reported that all postal, air, road, rail and sea links with Georgia were being suspended.
There has been no official word from the Russian transport and communications ministries.
Karel De Gucht, the Belgian foreign minister and head of the OSCE, is expected in Tblisi later today.
The crisis erupted when Georgia arrested the men, claiming they were members of a "very dangerous" network that had spied on the military, caused an explosion that had killed three policemen, and was planning a "serious provocation" on Georgian soil.
Georgian officials released a video which they said showed the men discussing military bases with Georgian citizens and exchanging money.
Moscow responded to the arrests last week by recalling its ambassador and evacuating its citizens, with some senior members of parliament urging stronger measures.
Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, described the arrests as "state terrorism", and forces on both side of the border were put on high alert.
Relations have been poor since pro-western Mr Saakashvili was swept to power amid street protests in 2003.
The atmosphere grew more poisoned over the summer as recriminations mounted over the status of two pro-Moscow break-away regions in Georgia and Mr Saakashvili's ambitions to join Nato.
Telegraph.co.uk