Russia calls US-Georgia drills 'provocation'

MOSCOW - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has described joint US-Georgia drills which started Wednesday as "provocation".

"The drills are supposed to be for the suppression of riots. I told the (US) Secretary of State that this looks like provocation," Lavrov told a meeting in the Russian State Duma, the lower house of parliament.

Moscow hoped those holding the exercises would bear in mind the fragile stability in Trans-Caucasian region, Lavrov said.

Meanwhile, he denied Moscow had urged anyone to recognize the independence of Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, saying Russia had only actively supported the regions in expanding their international contacts.

"We do not hold these talks. This is a business of our allies, Abkhazia and South Ossetia," Lavrov said, adding Russia would support its friends politically.

Moscow recognized the two regions' independence in August 2008 following a brief armed conflict with Georgia. In response, Georgia severed its diplomatic relations with Russia.