TBILISI. June 1 (Interfax-AVN) - Georgian State Minister for Separatist Conflicts Giorgi Khaindrava does not rule out an escalation of tensions in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone.
"The illegal armed units of separatists have been building fortifications, digging trenches and arranging fire nests. Provocations are possible," he said on Thursday.
The presence of Russian peacekeepers in the conflict zone is illegal, and their rotation two days ago breached bilateral agreements and Georgian laws, Khaindrava said.
"This is no longer an act of peacekeeping but an operation of Russian servicemen," he said.
The Georgian government will respond to Russian provocations with diplomatic protests, Khaindrava said.
"We will not yield to provocations but use every opportunity to seek a principled and swift international reaction to Russia's conduct," he said.
Khaindrava said he would meet with the U.S. and Russian ambassadors on Thursday.
Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said that Moscow respected the principle of territorial integrity but believed that South Ossetia's right to self-determination was a principle no less respected in the world.