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Georgia accuses Russia of gross interference in its affairs

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TBILISI, September 20 (RIA Novosti) - Georgia's Foreign Ministry accused Russia of interfering in its internal affairs Wednesday in the latest claims to be traded by the two countries.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry's toughly worded statement followed the signing in Moscow of a protocol on cooperation between Russia and South Ossetia, a breakaway region in Georgia, which is planning to hold a referendum in November to attain international recognition of its independent status and to join Russia later.

"Russia's concrete actions amount to gross interference in Georgia's domestic affairs," the ministry said. "Ignoring the general norms and principles of the international law, Russia infringes upon its [Georgia's] sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Relations between the former Soviet states have been strained over the presence of Russian peacekeepers in conflict zones involving two self-proclaimed republics in Georgia and other issues, including a Russian ban on the import of Georgian mineral water and wine.

The ministry also accused Russian state companies of attempts to annex South Ossetian energy systems. This is not the first statement to this effect by Georgia, which has already accused Russia of alleged attempts to overthrow its leadership.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has consistently said it is ready to help Georgia and South Ossetia, as well as the other breakaway region, Abkhazia, ease their tensions.

South Ossetia, which declared independence from Georgia following the collapse of the Soviet Union and a bloody conflict with the Caucasus state in 1991, has also stated its desire to join the neighboring Russian republic of North Ossetia, with which it is ethnically and historically connected. The majority of people in South Ossetia already hold Russian passports and the ruble is widely used.

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