MOSCOW - Russian troops in the breakaway province of South Ossetia have been put on increased combat readiness amid rising tensions on the de facto border with Georgia, Kremlin officials said yesterday.
Andrei Nesterenko, the spokesman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, said the move was a response to Georgian provocations.
“The most important thing now is to prevent escalation and not to allow skirmishes to grow into bigger clashes,’’ Nesterenko said.
The situation near South Ossetia has become increasingly tense as the first anniversary of the Russian-Georgian war approaches Friday, with Georgia and Russia blaming each other for provocations and intentions to resume fighting.
