Georgia wants the European Union to impose targeted sanctions against Russia's leaders, a top official said on Saturday, ahead of an EU summit on the crisis between Moscow and Tbilisi.
"There is no point in isolating Russia," Georgian Reintegration Minister Temur Yakobashvili told AFP.
"But we expect certain sanctions, which won't be against the people, but against the political elite."
EU leaders are due to meet on Monday in Brussels for the emergency summit. France, which holds the rotating EU presidency, has warned not to expect sanctions to be agreed against Moscow.
Yakobashvili did not say what the sanctions against Russian leaders could involve, although such measures often include travel bans or the freezing of overseas bank accounts.
Georgia has repeatedly said it is counting on strong support from the European Union after Russia recognised the rebel Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states.
"We are expecting the EU summit to express its support to Georgia not only in words but in actions," said Yakobashvili.
Yakobashvili again accused Russia of carrying out ethnic cleansing in South Ossetia and said that such actions should not remain "unpunished" by the European Union.
"And for sure we expect permanent non-recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia from EU countries."
A source in the French president's office said Friday that "we are still in a phase of dialogue with Moscow, not in a phase of sanctions. The time for sanctions has not yet come."
Russian troops entered Georgia on August 8 to push back Georgian troops attempting to restore control over the Moscow-backed separatist region of South Ossetia.
Russia halted a five-day offensive into Georgia but has failed to withdraw all its troops from Georgian territory.