Tensions between Russia and Georgia have been mounting steadily in recent years over the presence of Russian peacekeepers in the breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgia has repeatedly called for their withdrawal, a demand Moscow has just as consistently rejected, saying the majority of those living in the two regions were Russian nationals.
Relations deteriorated further this week, when five Russian servicemen were arrested Wednesday and charged with espionage. Also Wednesday, Georgian police surrounded the Russian military contingent's headquarters in Tbilisi, a siege that continued into Friday.
Russia recalled its ambassador for consultations and withdrawn its diplomatic staff and military family members from Tbilisi, flying them out in two emergency ministry planes Friday.
Russia now hopes the United Nations will take up the issue of the Russian-Georgian standoff. "We hope a statement on Georgia will be adopted in the second half of the day today," Vitaly Churkin said. "Our colleagues are constructively minded, and we are ready for a compromise."
Churkin said the UN Security Council will gather at 3 p.m. local time (11 p.m. Moscow time) and correct the available text with account taken of members' proposals.
