Source in the Ministry of Defence: Russia's war on Georgia is possible

At a meeting with permanent members of the Russian Security Council in the "Novo-Ogaryovo" Residence, president Vladimir Putin disclosed those standing behind the espionage scandal in Georgia and arrests of Russian servicemen, "Kommersant" writes.

"There are forces specializing in creating new and new crises, hoping to distract attention away from old problems. Probably, in the short-term perspective, it may have such effect. But it will for sure help with nothing in settling old and other serious crises already in place in the world," president of Russia declared.

"These people think that being "sheltered" by their foreign sponsors they may feel cosy and safe," Putin added. "But is it indeed so? I'd like to listen to representatives of civil agencies and military experts."

Putin gave to understand that Washington is the actual Moscow's opponent in Transcaucasia. Meanwhile, "Kommersant" writes, a source at the Ministry of Defence of Russia did not exclude the toughest measures towards Georgia: "All diplomatic steps, usually taken at a similar aggravation of relations, have been exhausted. The next in this turn could be a severance of diplomatic relations and a military operation. Any variants cannot be excluded."

"We do not take seriously the Russians' declarations," Mikhail Saakashvili, Georgian president, gave his response at a briefing. "They have just become the hostages of their own propaganda," he added and treated the reaction of Russian authorities to the latest events in Transcaucasia to be exaggerated. "I don't think they are so unreasonable as to apply military force against us," Saakashvili stressed. According to his words, in the nearest future EU and OSCE representatives will also come to Tbilisi, "Trud" newspaper reports.

We remind you that on October 1 Andrei Popov, Commander of the Group of Russian Troops in Transcaucasia (GRTT) asserted that the GRTT forces, including military bases in Akhalkalaki and Batumi, are in the state of high combat alertness, the "Novosti" Russian IA informs. According to his words, "in case of an abnormal situation or provocations, his fighters are ready to cut them short by all means including shooting to kill."