Russia shuts down embassy in Tbilisi

Russia slapped back at Georgia yesterday, suspending consular operations at its shuttered embassy in Tbilisi so that ordinary Georgians can't visit relatives in Russia.

The suspension means no new applications for Russian entry visas will be accepted. It came after Georgia severed diplomatic ties with Russia following the fighting between the two former Soviet republics last month.

"A break-off of diplomatic ties is an action that has a price," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said yesterday in Moscow, adding that the ministry is also considering other measures.