Georgia claims Russia violated its airspace

PanARMENIAN.Net - Georgia said that a Russian military helicopter had violated its airspace on Thursday, December 10 and that the incident threatened regional stability, Reuters reports.

Georgia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its Internet site that a Russian Mi-8 combat helicopter had crossed into the country's airspace over an area adjacent to the rebel Georgian region of South Ossetia.

"It violated the airspace controlled by the central government and flew over a local municipality and police buildings," the ministry said.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry called the incident "provocative in nature and posing a threat to the security and stability in the region".

There was no immediate comment from Moscow.

South Ossetia and Georgia's other breakaway region of Abkhazia were recognized by Moscow as independent states after Russia's five-day war with Georgia in August 2008.