NATO to start military exercises in Georgia. Russia qualifies it as a challenge

NATO troops start, on Wednesday, in Georgia a series of military exercises, a day after Tbilisi authorities managed to end a military strike at a base nearby Gori, BBC informs. Russia condemned the move, and classified it as a challenge. Moreover, it refused NATO's request to send in observers.

Last week, Russian President Dmitri Medvedev signed an agreement qualifying Russia to have complete control over the de facto borders of the Georgian separatist regions - Abkhazia and South Ossetia with Georgia for five years.

NATO exercises in the area come nine months after the war between Georgia and Russia. Some 1000 soldiers will be deployed in the region for the military exercises for three weeks.