Putin Links Troubles With Georgia To Frozen Conflicts

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili (file photo) (ITAR-TASS)

PRAGUE, October 25, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin says the souring of relations with Georgia is a result of Tbilisi's stance on its frozen conflicts.

Putin accused Georgia of seeking to use military means to resolve the conflicts in breakaway South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which he called a "big mistake."

The deterioration of Russian-Georgian relations is linked precisely to that -- to the attempts, or the preparation of a possible military solution of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia problems," he said.

Putin said the actions Russia has taken against Georgia over the past few weeks are aimed at "preventing bloodshed" in these regions. Russia has cracked down on Georgian businesses and deported some Georgians living in Russia back to Tbilisi.

He made his remarks during a live televised question-and-answer session with the Russian public.