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| Russian officers on spying charge | Russian officers on spying charge |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Four Russian officers detained in Georgia have been charged with spying, Georgian officials have said. | Four Russian officers detained in Georgia have been charged with spying, Georgian officials have said. |
| The men appeared in a Tbilisi court for a preliminary hearing, where the issue of their detention until the opening of the trial is being considered. | The men appeared in a Tbilisi court for a preliminary hearing, where the issue of their detention until the opening of the trial is being considered. |
| Russia is recalling its ambassador to Tbilisi after Wednesday's arrests and is beginning a partial evacuation of its personnel from Georgia. | Russia is recalling its ambassador to Tbilisi after Wednesday's arrests and is beginning a partial evacuation of its personnel from Georgia. |
| Georgia's president described Moscow's reaction to the arrests as "hysteria". | Georgia's president described Moscow's reaction to the arrests as "hysteria". |
| In a separate development, Russia's ambassador to the UN has called on the Security Council to censure Tbilisi for "dangerous and unacceptable" actions in Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia region. | In a separate development, Russia's ambassador to the UN has called on the Security Council to censure Tbilisi for "dangerous and unacceptable" actions in Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia region. |
| We neutralised a very serious and dangerous group Vano MerabishviliGeorgian Interior Minister Russia-Georgia tensions href="/1/hi/world/europe/5392058.stm" class="">Media war escalates | |
| Relations between Moscow and Tbilisi have deteriorated in recent weeks, since Georgia and the Western military alliance Nato agreed to hold talks on closer relations, correspondents say. | Relations between Moscow and Tbilisi have deteriorated in recent weeks, since Georgia and the Western military alliance Nato agreed to hold talks on closer relations, correspondents say. |
| On Friday, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov accused some new Nato members of illegally supplying Georgia with Soviet-era weapons. He did not name the countries. | On Friday, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov accused some new Nato members of illegally supplying Georgia with Soviet-era weapons. He did not name the countries. |
| Video footage | Video footage |
| The charges against the Russian officers had been formally filed by Georgian investigators, Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Khizanishvili announced. | The charges against the Russian officers had been formally filed by Georgian investigators, Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Khizanishvili announced. |
| He added that the Tbilisi city court would now consider the issue of preliminary detention of the officers. | He added that the Tbilisi city court would now consider the issue of preliminary detention of the officers. |
| Georgian police are still surrounding a Russian military HQ building in the capital. They say another Russian officer they want to question is sheltering inside. | Georgian police are still surrounding a Russian military HQ building in the capital. They say another Russian officer they want to question is sheltering inside. |
| A Russian contract serviceman who was detained together with the four officers has been released, Georgian and Russian officials said. | A Russian contract serviceman who was detained together with the four officers has been released, Georgian and Russian officials said. |
| More than 10 Georgian nationals have also been accused of treason by the Georgian authorities. | More than 10 Georgian nationals have also been accused of treason by the Georgian authorities. |
| Tbilisi has shown video footage which it says shows the Russian officers discussing military installations with Georgian citizens and exchanging money. | Tbilisi has shown video footage which it says shows the Russian officers discussing military installations with Georgian citizens and exchanging money. |
| Georgia has also linked them to an attack in the town of Gori which killed three police officers and injured dozens of people. | Georgia has also linked them to an attack in the town of Gori which killed three police officers and injured dozens of people. |
| The Russian defence minister said the charges against the officers were false and were intended to divert attention from Georgia's internal problems. | The Russian defence minister said the charges against the officers were false and were intended to divert attention from Georgia's internal problems. |
| Evacuation | Evacuation |
| On Thursday, Moscow said it was recalling its ambassador, and ordered a partial evacuation of its personnel and members of their families in Georgia. | On Thursday, Moscow said it was recalling its ambassador, and ordered a partial evacuation of its personnel and members of their families in Georgia. |
| A Russian emergencies ministry plane was already in Tbilisi and was expected to evacuate more than 100 officials - including the ambassador - on Friday. | A Russian emergencies ministry plane was already in Tbilisi and was expected to evacuate more than 100 officials - including the ambassador - on Friday. |
| Moscow also advised Russians not to visit Georgia, and stopped issuing visas to Georgian nationals. | Moscow also advised Russians not to visit Georgia, and stopped issuing visas to Georgian nationals. |
| Georgia, meanwhile, has accused Russia of actively trying to undermine its government by backing separatists in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. | Georgia, meanwhile, has accused Russia of actively trying to undermine its government by backing separatists in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. |
| The arrests coincided with the first official visit by Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili to a disputed area on the border between Georgia and Abkhazia. | The arrests coincided with the first official visit by 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, which Russia denies. | Tbilisi also says Moscow is waging economic war against the country through embargoes on imports of Georgian products, which Russia denies. |
| Relations between the two nations have become increasingly tense since Mr Saakashvili came to power in 2004, pledging to take the Caucasian 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 Caucasian nation out of Russia's orbit and join Nato and the European Union. |