Moscow  - Russian troops have been posted to the border with Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, just days before the start of NATO military exercises in Georgia.

A Russian border official, however, said the measure had long been planned and was unrelated to Moscow's criticism of the planned NATO exercises, according to a report by the Interfax news agency.

On the Abkhaz side of the border with Georgia, Russian soldiers were received with flowers, according to reports.

Russia has accused NATO of raising tensions in the region with its military exercises which are to begin on May 6 and last for almost a month.

Moscow and the two Georgian regions agreed in late April that Russia would secure the borders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, entities whose independence NATO firmly opposes.

NATO sees the deal as a contravention of ceasefire agreements brokered by the European Union in the aftermath of the Russia-Georgia war last August.

The alliance has repeatedly accused Russia of violating the territorial integrity of Georgia - which is hoping to join the Western alliance - and of building up a strong military presence in both Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Russia at the end of the August conflict recognized the two breakaway provinces as independent states, despite Western protest. At the same time, Moscow announced that 3,800 of its soldiers would remain stationed in each of the two Georgian provinces. (dpa)