Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Georgia of state terrorism with hostage-taking [File photo].
Last Update: Monday, October 2, 2006. 8:00pm (AEST)

Georgia to hand over Russian spy suspects

Georgia says it will hand over four Russian army officers arrested on spying charges to European mediators in an effort to defuse a crisis with Russia.

The move comes after a build-up of tension following the arrest of the Russian officers last Wednesday. Georgia charged the soldiers with spying.

It has led to a war of words between Russia and Georgia, including a sharp verbal attack by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Georgian Government says there will be a ceremony in which the Russian officers will be handed over to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), following talks with the OSCE chairman-in-office.

Earlier, President Mikhail Saakashvili dismissed a broadside from Mr Putin, saying Moscow was unlikely to use force to free the four officers whom Georgia said worked for Russia's GRU military intelligence and had been building a spy network.

Mr Putin accused Georgia of "state terrorism with hostage-taking" by arresting the Russian army officers last week and charging them with spying.

The arrests provoked the most serious crisis between pro-western Georgia and Russia in years.

Russia has withdrawn its ambassador and dozens of officials from Tbilisi and stopped issuing visas to Georgians.

- Reuters