Georgia severs diplomatic links with Russia

The Foreign Ministry has received an official declaration from the Georgian government confirming that it is cutting all diplomatic ties with Russia. The communiqué calls on Russia to close its embassy in Tbilisi by September 3.

Andrey Smaga, a Russian Embassy consul in Georgia, described the decision as 'another mistake by Georgia'. He added that the move 'will in no way facilitate the solution to the current problem'.

Georgia announced it was withdrawing most of its diplomatic staff from Moscow on Thursday last week. Consuls from both sides are expected to continue working in both capitals to ensure support for Russian and Georgian citizens respectively.

Russia also stopped issuing Russian visas to Georgian citizens on Wednesday.