Russia rules out lifting Georgia sanctions soon

MOSCOW, Oct 3 (Reuters) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today ruled out chances of economic sanctions, imposed against Georgia, being lifted soon.

Asked at a news conference whether he expected the suspension of air, land and sea traffic and of postal links introduced yesterday to be lifted soon, Lavrov said: ''Not for the time being.'' Russia slapped the transport ban on Georgia in the middle of a major crisis in bilateral relations fuelled by the arrest of four Russian army officers in Tbilisi. The officers accused of spying were later handed over to Russia as a gesture of good will.

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