Moscow briefs Washington on servicemen arrests in Georgia

MOSCOW, September 28 (RIA Novosti) - Moscow has informed Washington about Russia's view on the arrest of its army servicemen in Georgia, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin met Thursday with U.S. Ambassador to Moscow William Burns.

"The U.S. side was informed about the Russian evaluation of the unwarranted arrests of Russian military servicemen by the Georgian authorities on September 27-28," the ministry said.

It said Russia demanded the immediate release of its citizens and the lifting of the blockade on the headquarters of the Russian military contingent in the South Caucasus, which was cordoned off by police Wednesday evening as part of an operation to apprehend an alleged spy.

"These provocative actions show yet again that the line currently pursued by the Georgia leadership is dangerous not only for bilateral Russian-Georgian relations but also for regional security," the ministry said.