PRAGUE, September 29, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- NATO, the United States, and the EU have all attempted to calm the escalating spy row between Russia and Georgia. The diplomatic crisis between the two former Soviet states was sparked by the arrest of five Russian army intelligence officers on spying charges, one of whom has since been released. NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer was among the first to offer calming words. He spoke today at a news conference in Slovenia after meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov at the NATO-Russia Council. "On my behalf, there was a call for moderation and for de-escalation, and that is relevant for all parties -- that is as relevant for Georgia as it is for our Russian friends -- a general appeal, also from my side, to both sides to moderate and de-escalate the current situation," de Hoop Scheffer said.
| I admire the Georgians' pluck but they're fighting out of their weight class ... |
A Tbilisi court ruled today that two of the four Russian officers will be remanded in custody for another two months. The court will consider the other two officers' cases later today. Seven Georgian nationals were also charged with high treason in connection with the case.
And Russia today began airlifting diplomats and their families from Georgia.