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Russia warns about escalating Georgia violence
Russia on Tuesday said it would not be indifferent if violence escalated further in Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia, Interfax news agency reported, quoting a senior Russian diplomat.
- Reuters
- Published: 23:23 August 5, 2008
Moscow: Russia on Tuesday said it would not be indifferent if violence escalated further in Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia, Interfax news agency reported, quoting a senior Russian diplomat.
Russia has accused Georgia of using excessive force in South Ossetia, but Nato said it was "not aware of any troop concentrations by Georgia in or near South Ossetia".
The breakaway region is at the centre of a row between Russia and Georgia, which Nato says will one day join the alliance. The West fears tensions could trigger a war.
"If events develop according to the worst-case violence scenario, Russia will not allow itself to remain indifferent, considering that Russian citizens live in South Ossetia, particularly in the conflict zone," Interfax quoted special ambassador Yuri Popov as saying.
Joint commission
Georgia, which has angered Russia by pushing to join Nato, lies at the heart of the Caucasus - an unstable region which hosts a pipeline pumping oil to Europe from Asia.
Popov heads Russia's delegation to a joint commission trying to resolve the conflict in South Ossetia. He said senior South Ossetian and Georgian officials were due to meet tomorrow.
Popov made his statement after several days of clashes in South Ossetia, in which at least six people were killed. Separatists said Georgian forces shelled the regional capital Tskhinvali, deliberately targeting civilians.
Georgia denies the accusation, saying its forces were only returning fire.
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