Georgia, Russia in new airspace dispute

TBILISI, Georgia, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- For the second time this month, Georgia has accused Russia of violating its airspace, which Moscow again vehemently denied.

Georgia's Foreign Ministry in Tbilisi said in a diplomatic protest note to Moscow two Russian "incursions" were noted Tuesday between 6:46 p.m. and 6:48 p.m., and demanded an explanation, Russia's Interfax news agency reported.

The note specified altitude, speed and depth of travel into the country.

Russian Air Force Col. Alexander Drobyshevsky emphatically denied the claim.

"I officially state that aircraft of the Russian Air Forces did not violate Georgia's airspace on Aug. 21," a spokesman told the agency.

Relations between the former Soviet republic of Georgia and Russia are frosty over Georgian claims Russia is helping separatists near the border region.

On Aug. 6, Georgia claimed a Russian fighter had dropped a bomb on a town that landed but didn't explode. Russia denied any involvement in that incident.