TBILISI, Sept 27: Georgian security forces detained four Russian officers on spying charges and surrounded the regional headquarters of Russian troops on Wednesday, sending Tbilisi’s ties with former master Moscow to a new low.

Russia responded by handing Georgia’s ambassador in Moscow a protest note and telling Tbilisi to free the detained officers.

“A few hours ago our counter-intelligence detained four GRU (Russian army intelligence) officers and more than 10 Georgian citizens,” the interior minister said.

“We had information that this group had been planning a serious provocation,” he said. “Another Russian officer is now hiding at the headquarters of Russian troops in the Transcausus, this is why the building is cordoned off by Georgian police.”

Eyewitnesses saw 100 Georgian policemen surrounding the regional Russian army headquarters in the capital.—Reuters