MOSCOW, September 30 (RIA Novosti) - Russia criticized on Wednesday PACE's demand that it admit more EU monitors to two former Georgia republics, saying a request should have been addressed directly to the republics' leaderships.
Russia recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states after the conflict with Georgia last year, but the European Union still considers them Georgian territory.
A Russian Foreign Ministry official said the demand of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) that Moscow give EU monitors unrestricted access to the republics by the end of the year "does not reflect modern realties."
"They should directly contact the authorities in South Ossetia and Abkhazia," said Igor Lyakin-Frolov, the ministry's deputy director for information and press.
In a resolution adopted by 80 votes to 36, PACE also demanded that Russia lift all restrictions on humanitarian aid to the two regions and let Georgian civilians move freely across the boundary lines.
Meanwhile, a PACE monitoring commission official is expected to deliver a report on Thursday on Georgia's proposal to strip the Russian delegation of its voting rights, with discussions and voting to follow.
The PACE monitoring commission will hold a meeting later on Wednesday to consider amendments to the report, a source close to the proceedings told RIA Novosti.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry welcomed on Wednesday PACE's resolution, calling it an "unbiased and clear" document.
The ministry expressed hope that "the Assembly will not delay in taking appropriate and effective steps to ensure its demands are met."
The Russian delegation will not attend the discussions on Thursday.
Abkhazia has also criticized PACE's stance.
The Abkhaz foreign minister told reporters on Wednesday that his republic would discuss cooperation with PACE only if it sees a positive attitude.
"When PACE regains common sense and adopts intelligent policies toward Abkhazia, we will decide how to cooperate with them. There is currently no sense discussing it," Sergei Shamba said.
