Sergei Ivanov, the Russian Defence Minister, said: “Our peacekeepers are there, and there are many Russia citizens there, as well as in Georgia.

“If the Georgian leadership attacks . . . if ethnic cleansing and genocide starts there, Russia will not stay on the sidelines.”

Russian peacekeepers patrol both regions. They are officially part of Georgia but broke away in the early 1990s when Abkhaz and Ossetian ethnic groups revolted against Georgian rule and expelled ethnic Georgians.

Moscow has given Russian citizenship to remaining residents in both regions.

Relations between Russia and Georgia are in crisis after the recent arrest in Georgia of four Russian army officers alleged to have been spies. Moscow cut its transport links with its neighbour and banned most trade between the two nations.

Lithuania expelled a senior Russian diplomat yesterday for suspected spying. (AFP)

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