Moscow bans military, dual-purpose exports to Georgia

Moscow, Jan 19 (RIA Novosti) Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has signed a decree banning exports of military and dual-purpose products to Georgia, the Kremlin press service said Monday.

Under the document, valid until Dec 1, 2011, the government is to develop ways to restrict military cooperation with countries supplying Russian or Soviet-made arms to Georgia.

Countries or individuals found to be breaching these regulations will face economic and financial sanctions.

The Kremlin said the decree has been signed to protect Russia's national interests.

Relations between Moscow and Tbilisi have been strained since Georgia attacked South Ossetia Aug 8 in an attempt to regain control over the breakaway republic, which split from Georgia in the early 1990s. In response, Russia launched a military operation to eject Georgian troops from the region.

Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another separatist republic, Aug 26.