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The west is sick, Russia says

28/08/2008

Any plans to impose sanctions upon Russia over the deepening crisis in Georgia would be an example of the west's "sick imagination", Moscow has said.

France raised the spectre of economic sanctions earlier today when its foreign minister said the issue would be discussed by European Union leaders tomorrow.

Russia, which has faced condemnation by Nato for its military action in Georgia and its recognition of two breakaway regions as independent states, retaliated by accusing France of completely misjudging the situation.

Responding to Bernard Kouchner's comments in Paris, his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov said: "My friend [Mr] Kouchner also said that we will soon attack Moldova and Ukraine and the Crimea; but that is a sick imagination and probably that applies to sanctions as well.

"I think it is a demonstration of complete confusion."

Russia invaded Georgia after its president Mikhail Saakashvili ordered an attack upon breakaway South Ossetia, which has strong links to Moscow.

A ten-day conflict followed, after which Russian president Dmitry Medvedev signed decrees officially recognising South Ossetia and fellow rebel region Abkhazia on Tuesday.

UK foreign secretary David Miliband has warned Russia of the consequences of starting a second cold war.

"It is striking that no country has supported what Russia did on Tuesday," he said.

"The only people who have, as I understand it from the media reports, is Hamas."