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MOSCOW - Russia on Friday hit back at the G7 for condemning Moscow's recognition of Georgian rebel regions as independent, saying its stance was "biased" and justified "Georgian acts of aggression."
The Group of Seven's condemnation "is biased in character and is aimed at justifying Georgian acts of aggression," said a Russian foreign ministry statement.
Russia is facing an avalanche of criticism from the West after it formally recognised South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states.
The G7 strongly condemned the move in a statement on Wednesday, saying: "Russia's decision has called into question its commitment to peace and security in the Caucasus."
"We deplore Russia's excessive use of military force in Georgia and its continued occupation of parts of Georgia," said the statement by foreign ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.
The Russian foreign ministry reiterated that it had "completely fulfilled" the six-point ceasefire agreement brokered by France to end the conflict between Georgia and Russia.
The G7 had called on the Russian government to "implement in full" the peace plan.
Russia maintains it has completed a troop withdrawal from deep inside Georgian territory, in line with the ceasefire accord, and that those troops remaining are serving in a "peacekeeping" mission.
The foreign ministry underscored that Moscow's "actions were to prevent a destabilisation of the entire Caucasus region." - AFP/vm
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