The Russian Foreign Ministry warned its nationals on Wednesday against visiting Georgia because of the threat of prosecution to Russian tourists who visit Abkhazia and South Ossetia without Georgia's permission, Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said.

The Georgian Interior Ministry proclaimed "visiting Abkhazia and South Ossetia without the knowledge of the Georgian authorities" as a criminal offense on Friday.

"Violators" may be fined up to $1,200 and those who "collude" with the authorities of the two territories could face up to five years behind bars.

"Indeed, foreigners who have visited Abkhazia and South Ossetia face charges, including huge penalties or imprisonment, when they appear in Georgia," Nesterenko said, adding the Georgian authorities were doing all their best to shut down Abkhazia and South Ossetia's ties with the outer world.

Nesterenko said Russian nationals in Georgia were systematically victimized regardless of whether they had ever visited Abkhazia or South Ossetia.

Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states two weeks after a five-day war with Georgia in August 2008, which began when Georgian forces attacked South Ossetia in an attempt to bring it back under central control.

Since then, Russia has deployed thousands of troops and border guards to the two regions, which Georgia considers part of its sovereign territory.

MOSCOW, September 1 (RIA Novosti)