May 4 (Bloomberg) -- Russia accused Georgia of ``intentionally fueling tensions'' in Abkhazia after the separatist region's air-defense forces ``appropriately'' shot down two unmanned Georgian spy planes.

``By resorting to reckless schemes with unmanned spy planes and pushing ahead with a military buildup near the conflict zones, the authorities in Tbilisi are intentionally fueling tensions in the region,'' the Foreign Ministry said today on its Web site. ``The Georgian side bears full responsibility for the consequences of this course.''

Georgia, a former Soviet republic of 4.6 million people, has massed more than 1,500 soldiers and police officers in the Kodori Gorge area of Abkhazia, the ministry said on April 29.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili accuses Russia of backing separatist regimes in Abkhazia and another breakaway region, South Ossetia, which have pro-Russian leaderships and where Russian peacekeepers are stationed. Saakashvili pledges to bring the regions, which broke away from Georgia during wars in the 1990s, back under central-government control. Most of their citizens hold Russian passports.

`Disinformation Campaign'

Georgia's acting Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze denied Russian media reports that Abkhaz forces had shot down two Georgian aircraft over Abkhazia today, saying by telephone that they are part of a ``disinformation campaign'' aimed at ``covering up'' Russia's military buildup in the region.

Russia's Defense Ministry said on April 30 that it had increased its peacekeeping force in Abkhazia and added 15 observation posts on the Abkhaz border with the rest of Georgia in response to ``provocative actions'' by Georgian forces. Russian peacekeepers are stationed in Abkhazia under a Commonwealth of Independent States mandate.

Saakashvili's special envoy Davit Bakradze said on May 1 that Russia has as many as 3,000 peacekeepers in Abkhazia, up from the previous level of about 2,000.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on May 2 that she was ``very concerned'' by Russia's troop buildup in Abkhazia and planned to raise the matter with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

The Russian Foreign Ministry, citing reports from Abkhazia, said two Georgian planes were shot down today while making ``unsanctioned flights.'' If true, the reports would bring the total of Georgian planes destroyed since mid-March to four.

Saakashvili said on April 21 that he had ``clear video footage'' showing that a Russian military jet from the Gudauta military base in Abkhazia shot down a Georgian spy plane the day before. Russia has said that Abkhaz forces brought down the plane.

The Abkhaz government also said it shot down a Georgian plane on March 18.

To contact the reporter on this story: Helena Bedwell in Tbilisi hbedwell@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: May 4, 2008 12:42 EDT