Vyacheslav Kovalenko was recalled Thursday to Moscow for consultations as the row between the two countries escalated over the detention of the Russian servicemen.
"The actions of the Georgian authorities are an insult to Russia," the diplomat said. "We will not tolerate such treatment. Russia must be respected, and the Georgian side will have to apologize to Russia and Russian citizens."
He said the incident had inflicted huge damage on bilateral relations.
"We demand the immediate release of the Russian military servicemen, who are innocent," he said. "We demand an apology to Russian citizens and Russian servicemen. I am absolutely convinced that all materials presented as alleged evidence of wrongdoing have been falsified. This footage is shoddy work that will not convince anyone that these people were really spying in Georgia."