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Russia 'shot down Georgia drone' Russia 'shot down Georgia drone'
(about 4 hours later)
A Russian fighter jet has shot down an unmanned reconnaissance aircraft over Georgia, Georgian authorities say. A Russian fighter jet has shot down an unmanned reconnaissance aircraft over the troubled Georgian region of Abkhazia, Georgian authorities say.
Georgia's defence ministry told the BBC it had video footage showing a Russian MiG-29 aircraft shooting down the unarmed Georgian drone on Sunday. Georgia's defence ministry has released video showing what appears to be a Russian MiG-29 shooting down the unarmed Georgian drone on Sunday.
A spokesman for Russia's air force told Reuters the claim was "nonsense". A Russian air force spokesman said the claim was "nonsense" while Abkhaz rebels said they had downed the drone.
Tensions are high between the two neighbours over Russian support for breakaway Georgian regions, and Georgian moves towards joining Nato. Russia's leader asked why a drone had been present in a "conflict zone".
The Georgian air force told Reuters news agency the video footage showed a Russian jet launching a missile at the Georgian plane as it flew over the breakaway Abkhazia region. President Vladimir Putin expressed his concern in a phone call to Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, the Kremlin reported.
"It's absolutely illegal for a Russian MiG-29 to be there," Col David Nairashvili, the air force commander, told Reuters. Mr Saakashvili himself went on Georgian TV to say he had "categorically demanded [of Mr Putin]... that these aggressive attacks on Georgia be stopped immediately".
Last week, Georgia accused Russia of trying to annex the breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by deciding to seek closer ties with them. Tensions are high between the two neighbours over Russian support for Abkhazia and another breakaway Georgian region, South Ossetia, and over Georgian moves towards joining Nato.
Russia has said the plan is aimed at protecting the rights and legal interests of Russian citizens, who make up the majority of the population in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. 'Absolutely illegal'
Russian and UN peacekeepers have been deployed in the two republics since the early 1990s, when violence broke out as both regions tried to break free from Georgian control. The video shows a Russian jet launching a missile at the Georgian plane as it flies over Abkhazia, the Georgian air force told Reuters news agency.
"It's absolutely illegal for a Russian MiG-29 to be there," said Col David Nairashvili, the air force commander.
"Russian military aircraft intruded into Georgian airspace above Abkhazia, Georgia," said President Saakashvili on television.
"This aircraft attacked and destroyed Georgian UAV. Once again, Georgia was exercising [its] sovereign right to monitor a situation on its own territory."
President Putin viewed the presence of the drone as a "destabilising factor escalating tension", the Kremlin said.
"During an examination of the incident with the Georgian unmanned plane, Vladimir Putin expressed his perplexity over the fact that the Georgian side is organising military flights over a conflict zone," it added.
A Russian air force spokesman said: "What would a Russian jet fighter be doing over Georgian territory?"
Last week, Georgia accused Russia of trying to annex Abkhazia and South Ossetia by deciding to seek closer ties with them.
Russia has said its proposal is aimed at protecting the rights and legal interests of Russian citizens, who make up the majority of the population in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Russian and UN peacekeepers have been deployed in the two regions since the early 1990s, when violence broke out as they broke free from Georgian control.
Earlier this month, Nato decided not to grant Georgia's request to join its Membership Action Plan but promised it would eventually become a member of the alliance.Earlier this month, Nato decided not to grant Georgia's request to join its Membership Action Plan but promised it would eventually become a member of the alliance.