MOSCOW, September 26 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Foreign Ministry criticized Tuesday a Georgian idea to invite foreign diplomats to visit a troubled region separating Tbilisi-controlled territory from breakaway Abkhazia as dangerous and untimely.

The Kodori Gorge in northern Georgia, controlled by Abkhazia in its lower section and Tbilisi in the upper part, has been in the center of tensions between the former Soviet republic and the breakaway region since late July, when Georgia conducted what it called a police operation there to disarm a rebellious militia leader.

"We believe this idea is dangerous and ill-timed," the Foreign Ministry said. "Unfortunately, it falls into line with the policy pursued by Tbilisi, which seeks to legitimize its military invasion of the upper part of the Kodori Gorge."

Russia has insisted on the withdrawal of Georgian troops from Kodori, saying it is crucial for reviving talks with Abkhazia. The self-proclaimed republic said in September the operation had disrupted peace efforts being made since 1993 and suspended the talks.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said "tours" to Kodori for foreign diplomats was not what the situation required. The ministry reiterated the need to invite UN observers to monitor the upper part of the Kodori Gorge and urged further peacekeeping efforts by the post-Soviet CIS contingent.

Georgia earlier agreed to the UN monitoring, but demanded a limited Russian involvement.