Georgia says a Russian military helicopter has violated its airspace.

The Defense Ministry said on December 10 that a Russian Mi-8 helicopter crossed "the occupation line" near Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia the day before and flew back several minutes later.

The ministry called the incident "provocative in nature and posing a threat to the security and stability in the region."

A Russian Defense Ministry official denied the allegation, saying, "Russian combat helicopters have made no flights over the territory adjacent to the Georgian border over the past 24 hours.”

"The occupation line" is how Georgian officials call the country's administrative boundary with South Ossetia and its other breakaway region -- Abkhazia.

Russia has recognized the two separatist regions' independence following a five-day war with Georgia in August 2008, and has kept troops there since then.

Based on reporting by apsny.ge, Reuters, TASS, and Interfax