Russia Deports 136 Georgians After Imposing Blockade (Update2)

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Russia Deports 136 Georgians After Imposing Blockade (Update2)

By Sebastian Alison

Oct. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Russia deported 136 Georgians on a special flight from Moscow to Tbilisi, four days after closing all transport links to the Caucasus country in a spying dispute.

``I think there will be more flights today and tomorrow,'' Georgian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Nino Kajaia said by telephone from Tbilisi. Another flight is due later today, Georgian broadcaster Rustavi-2 said on its Web site.

A spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry said he had no information on the case, adding that illegal immigrants are regularly deported. The Interior Ministry couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

Kajaia said many of the 136 Georgians deported had lived and worked in Russia for years with no problems. Russia closed all air, sea, road and rail links with Georgia on Oct. 2, the same day Georgia expelled four Russian soldiers it had arrested for spying on Sept. 27.

About 180 Russians are ``departing urgently'' today from Tbilisi on two flights, state television channel Russia Today reported.

Separately, police are visiting Moscow schools to check the names of children, the broadcaster said. ``They're asking schools to show the names of Georgian children who are studying there,'' Kajaia said.

Relations between Russia and Georgia have been tense since President Mikheil Saakashvili came to power following a bloodless ``Rose Revolution'' in 2003. Saakashvili vowed to loosen ties with Georgia's former Soviet master and lead it into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and European Union.

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http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=aAM4slk9vL7g&refer=europe