"It would make sense to deploy an international police presence in the security zone," ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said. "This could be done under an OSCE mandate and based on European Union capabilities, given that EU states have expressed an interest in this."
Nesterenko said Russia is ready to discuss its own participation in an international police force in the province, which Moscow recognized as an independent state last week, along with another breakaway Georgian region, Abkhazia.
"Given the sad experience of the current Georgian leadership's aggressive plans, OSCE observers should focus on patrolling the security zone... Russian peacekeepers are prepared to engage in close cooperation with them," Nesterenko said.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe earlier said it would send 100 military observers to Georgia.
Echoing Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's appeals for an arms embargo on Georgia, the spokesman said Georgia's further military buildup must be prevented. Tbilisi's August 8 offensive to seize South Ossetia showed why it had procured weapons en masse, he said.
"The most important thing is to prevent [Georgian President Mikheil] Saahashvili from new military adventures and the rearmament of the regime," which has made clear why it needs the weapons that it has been "both openly and covertly" supplied with, he said.
The countries continuing to provide military aid to Georgia must realize their responsibility, he added.
Moscow has repeatedly questioned the nature of cargoes being delivered to Georgia by the U.S. and other NATO members' warships. The Western countries insist they are supplying only humanitarian aid.
Moscow has laid partial blame for the bloodshed and devastation in South Ossetia on the United States and other Western powers, saying their military backing and political support encouraged Tbilisi to strike.
Western nations have strongly criticized Russia for its response to Georgia's attack and the recognition of Georgia's breakaway provinces, with several countries threatening sanctions and isolation.
Georgia severed diplomatic ties with Russia on Friday.
Nesterenko also said Russia's consulate in Georgia may stop issuing visas. "As far as the visa issue is concerned, it remains doubtful," he said, adding that the consulate in Tbilisi will focus on the registration of Russian citizens in Georgia and the legalization of documents.
