Russian troops in Georgia
Photo: Reuters
Putin: Russia will not be isolated
Photo: AP
Georgia breaks diplomatic ties with Russia
Georgia to sever ties with Russia in protest to military presence in its territory, Russia criticizes move. PM Putin warns EU against isolating Russia over Georgia conflict to serve US interests, says it may lead to lack of cooperation on Iranian issue
Georgia said Friday it will sever diplomatic ties with Moscow to protest the presence of Russian troops on its territory. Russia criticized the move, pinning blame for a breakdown in relations on Tbilisi.
Lawmakers had voted unanimously late Thursday to break off ties with Russia, branding it an "aggressor country" in their conflict over two Russian-backed separatist regions in Georgia.
Conflict in Georgia
Russian president, Sarkozy discuss crisis by phone for over an hour; Medvedev says Georgian soldiers must return to original bases in line with French-brokered ceasefire
Russia will have to close its embassy in Georgia if ties are severed, the RIA-Novosti agency quoted an unnamed ministry official as saying. However, both nations' consulates will remain open — important for the many Georgian citizens living in Russia.
Adding to the tension, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Moscow will not be isolated over its conduct in Georgia and warned Europe that it shouldn't cater to the US.
"If European countries want to serve the foreign policy interests of the United States, in my view they won't win anything from this," Putin said in an interview with Germany's ARD television.
Putin also justified Russia's actions, saying it had defended the lives of its citizens during the war. "Such a country will not be in isolation," he said.
On Thursday Putin suggested his country's cooperation with the West on the Iranian nuclear issue could be hurt by the Georgia tensions. Asked if Moscow might stop cooperation if it comes under increased pressure over Georgia, he told CNN that Russia is "working very consistently and diligently with its partners" on the Iran issue.
But "if nobody wants to talk with us on these issues and cooperation with Russia is not needed, then for God's sake, do it yourselves," he said in the interview. Russia, which has close ties to Tehran, has long been reluctant to impose harsh sanctions, though it backed the past three rounds of limited financial sanctions imposed by the six nations.
