"Georgia's leadership is attempting to cover up the real scale of the losses and is officially reporting about 70 confirmed deaths," a Russian intelligence source said on Monday, adding that "their figures are significantly understated."
"It is unacceptable and impossible in democratic countries for the authorities to hide the truth concerning the deaths of its citizens," the Georgian ministry countered in a statement, adding that according to the latest data, 360 people were killed in the conflict.
"Civilians make up 188 of them, 154 were from the armed forces, and 18 were policemen," the ministry said, adding that a total of 2,234 people were also injured, and that fourteen troops were listed as missing in action.
Russia has said that 66 of its soldiers were killed in the conflict, and at least 340 wounded.
The conflict began after Georgian forces launched an attack on South Ossetia on August 8. Most residents of South Ossetia and Abkhazia have had Russian citizenship since the early 2000s, and Moscow subsequently launched a military operation to "force Georgia to accept peace."
Russia then recognized the republics as independent states on August 26.
