Georgia's complaint about Russia aired

UNITED NATIONS, April 24 (UPI) -- Georgia argued its case before the U.N. Security Council about Russia's aggressive behavior, citing a Russian fighter downing a Georgian surveillance drone.

The U.N. Security Council met in a closed session Wednesday at Georgia's request regarding a Georgian unmanned reconnaissance aircraft shot down Monday over Abkhazia, reportedly by a Russian MiG-29, the Financial Times reported Thursday.

Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, said Russia wants to strengthen ties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which broke away from Georgia in 1991 after the Soviet Union collapsed, RIA Novosti, the Russian information agency, reported.

Giorgi Baramidzi, Georgia's deputy prime minister said Russia was playing a "very bad game," the Times said.

"It is very dangerous and provocative. Russia is flexing its muscles," Baramidzi said. "It is a challenge for the west."

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack reiterated support for Georgia and its territorial integrity "and are concerned by the presence of a MiG-29 aircraft in Georgian airspace."

Churkin dismissed claims that it was a Russian fighter that downed the aircraft, saying "our air force says that our planes were not flying in the area," Novosti said.