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Russia orders Georgia evacuation Russia urges UN to rebuke Georgia
(about 15 hours later)
Russia has ordered a partial withdrawal of officials and their families in Georgia in a worsening row over the arrest of Russian officers there. Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, has called on the Security Council to censure Georgia for "dangerous and unacceptable" actions.
The Russian ambassador would also leave Tbilisi, said the foreign ministry. It comes amid tension over the arrest in Georgia of four Russian military officers, who are accused of spying.
It follows Wednesday's arrests of five Russian military personnel accused by Tbilisi of spying. Moscow is demanding their immediate release. Moscow has recalled its ambassador to Tbilisi and ordered the partial evacuation of Russian personnel from Georgia, which will begin later.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili denounced the Russian reaction to the arrests as "hysteria". Georgian forces are still surrounding a Russian military building in Tbilisi.
The already tense relations between the two countries have deteriorated over the past week, correspondents say. They say another Russian they want to question is sheltering inside.
We neutralised a very serious and dangerous group Vano MerabishviliGeorgian Interior Minister Russia-Georgia tensions
The Georgian authorities have released video footage which they say shows the Russian officers discussing military installations with Georgian citizens and exchanging money.
Georgia has also linked the five officers to an attack in the town of Gori which killed three police officers and injured dozens of people.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov said the charges against the officers were false - and were intended to divert attention from Georgia's internal problems.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has denounced the Russian reaction to the arrests as "hysteria".
All of this is aimed at provoking the situation and raising the degree of escalation to the maximum level Sergei IvanovRussian Defence Minister
Relations between Moscow and Tbilisi have deteriorated in recent weeks, since Georgia and the Western military alliance Nato agreed to talks on closer relations, correspondents say.
The Russian foreign ministry said it decided to begin the evacuation of its personnel because of "a growing threat to their security".The Russian foreign ministry said it decided to begin the evacuation of its personnel because of "a growing threat to their security".
We neutralised a very serious and dangerous group Vano MerabishviliGeorgian Interior Minister Russia-Georgia tensions rise
It said emergency situations ministry planes would start flying Russian officials out of Georgia on Friday.It said emergency situations ministry planes would start flying Russian officials out of Georgia on Friday.
Moscow also advised all its nationals to avoid trips to Georgia. Moscow has also advised Russians not to visit Georgia, and has stopped issuing visas to Georgian nationals.
In another development earlier on Thursday, the Russian embassy stopped receiving documents for issuing visas to Georgian nationals. Breakaway regions
Trading accusations Georgia has accused Russia of actively trying to undermine its government by backing separatists in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
The tensions between the two countries escalated after the arrests of the five Russian military personnel - four officers and an NCO - on suspicion of spying. Wednesday's arrests coincided with the first official visit by pro-Western President Saakashvili to a disputed area on the border between Georgia and Abkhazia.
All of this is aimed at provoking the situation and raising the degree of escalation to the maximum level Sergei IvanovRussian Defence Minister
Georgia is also demanding the handover of another Russian officer who is believed to be inside the Russian army headquarters in Tbilisi, surrounded by Georgian police.
Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili said on Thursday files would be released showing that the detained Russian officers had been "personally carrying out intelligence activities".
He said earlier they had been collecting information on Georgia's relations with Nato, as well on its sea port and railway infrastructure, opposition parties and army.
"We neutralised a very serious and dangerous group," Mr Merabishvili said, adding that the arrested had planned "a major provocation".
Georgia has also linked the five officers to an attack in the town of Gori which killed three police officers and injured dozens of people.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described the actions as subversive and said they should be taken up by the UN.
"It is another manifestation of anti-Russian policy," he said, quoted by Itar-Tass news agency.
Growing tension
Georgia has accused Russia of actively trying undermine its government by backing separatists in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, says the BBC's Matthew Collin in Tbilisi.
Wednesday's arrests coincided with the first official visit by pro-Western Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili to a disputed area on the border between Georgia and Abkhazia.
Russia said his visit was dangerous and would raise tensions between Russia and Georgia.Russia said his visit was dangerous and would raise tensions between Russia and Georgia.
Tbilisi also says Moscow is waging economic war against the country through embargoes on imports of Georgian products.Tbilisi also says Moscow is waging economic war against the country through embargoes on imports of Georgian products.
Russia has denied the allegations.Russia has denied the allegations.
Relations between the two nations have become increasingly tense since Mr Saakashvili came to power in 2004, pledging to take the Caucasus nation out of Russia's orbit and join Nato and the European Union.Relations between the two nations have become increasingly tense since Mr Saakashvili came to power in 2004, pledging to take the Caucasus nation out of Russia's orbit and join Nato and the European Union.
In 2005, Russia agreed to close its two remaining Soviet-era bases in Georgia by 2008.In 2005, Russia agreed to close its two remaining Soviet-era bases in Georgia by 2008.