MOSCOW, July 22 (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Ministry deniedon Wednesday accusations by neighbouring Georgia that it hadviolated its territory by placing border markers on the edge ofbreakaway South Ossetia region.
Georgia's Foreign Ministry said last week that part of theBaku-Supsa oil pipeline was now in territory it regards asoccupied by Russia.
"Information about moving the borderline inside the Georgianterritory is wrong," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in astatement.
South Ossetia and its fellow breakaway region of Abkhazia moved away from Georgia's control after a brief war with Moscowin 2008. Both host Russian military bases but most countries andthe United Nations regard them as part of Georgia.
Russian troops have been installing barbed wire and fencesaround South Ossetia since the war but residents say thesoldiers have now erected border signs up to 1.5 km (one mile)beyond the administrative border.
European Council President Donald Tusk criticised Russia onMonday for placing the border markers, calling it a provocation.
The 830-km (520-mile) Baku-Supsa pipeline, operated by BP, runs from Azerbaijan to the Georgian Black Sea terminalof Supsa. It can transport up to 100,000 barrels of oil per day.
A former Soviet republic, Georgia is important to Europebecause its pipelines bring in Caspian gas and oil.
The country of 3.7 million has no diplomatic relations withRussia but says a foreign policy goal is not to antagoniseMoscow. Nevertheless, it is seeking membership of NATO and theEuropean Union. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
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