Russia Pulls Officials Out Of Georgia Amid Rising Tensions
Yvonne Lee - All Headline News Staff Reporter (AHN) - Security fears prompted Russia to order a partial withdrawal of officials and their families from Georgia. Tensions have worsened over the arrest of five Russian military officers accused of spying by Tbilisi. Moscow is demanding their release, while Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili called Russia's reaction to the arrests "hysteria." Georgia wants Moscow to handover another officer who is believed to be inside the Russian army headquarters in Tbilisi. The building is surrounded by Georgian police. The foreign ministry said the Russian ambassador will also leave the country. It added that it decided to evacuate personnel due to "a growing threat to their security." Emergency situations ministry planes will begin transporting Russian officials out of Georgia on Friday. Moscow is also advising Russians to cease traveling to Georgia. Meanwhile, the Russian embassy ceased processing visa applications for Georgia nationals. Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili said files would prove the detained officers had been "personally carrying out intelligence activities". He accused the officers of pursuing information on Georgia's relations with NATO, as well as its sea port and railway infrastructure, opposition parties and army. Merabishvili said, "We neutralized a very serious and dangerous group." He added that the office |
