Georgia-Russia crisis escalates

Russia has evacuated all but two staff members and guards from its embassy in Georgia and announced it was suspending planning for further troop withdrawals from its ex-Soviet neighbour.

The biggest bilateral crisis in years erupted after the arrest in Georgia on Wednesday of four Russian military officers accused of spying. Ties between Tbilisi and Moscow were already strained over Georgia’s bid to join NATO and allegations that Russia was backing its two separatist provinces, which Moscow denies.