Meanwhile, Russia took a diplomatic retaliation at Georgia on Wednesday by suspending consular operations at its shuttered embassy in Tbilisi so that ordinary Georgians can't visit Russia.

It came after Georgia announced to break diplomatic ties with Russia on Wednesday.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said that the ministry is also considering other measures.

US Vice President Dick Cheney visited Azerbaijan on Wednesday and was due to arrive in Georgia on Thursday as part of a swing through Russia's southern neighbours to emphasise US interest and support.

Commenting on the visit, Russian foreign ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said Moscow would wait and see how he assesses the situation.

"We should wait until Mr. Cheney arrives in Georgia and see how he assesses the situation, otherwise it would be premature to judge. But all the calls on Tbilisi that it is necessary to restore its blown up, to use a figure of speech, military facilities in no way contribute to stabilising the situation in the region and do not help implement the six principles put forward by Medvedev and Sarkozy."