Tensions between Russia and Georgia have been rising steadily for the past several years over the presence of Russian peacekeepers in the breakaway Georgian republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
"They were beaten, their car and weapons were seized," Sergei Ivanov said, adding that the servicemen were released around 3 a.m. local time.
The incident comes against the backdrop of the detention of Russian officers Wednesday over "spying" claims.
Relations between Russia and Georgia hit new lows Wednesday when Tbilisi said it had detained five senior Russian army officers and more than 10 alleged local agents on suspicion of spying.
The accusations brought a strident response from Moscow, with the Foreign Ministry branding the claims as unsubstantiated and demanding that the officers, who have been conducting routine work to ensure the withdrawal of military hardware and troops from two Soviet-era bases in Georgia, be released immediately.
