Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin spoke on the phone with his Georgian counterpart, Grigol Vashadze, on Sunday and discussed the situation in the South Ossetian conflict zone.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Karasin had told the Georgian diplomat that Moscow was “seriously concerned” by the increase in tensions, which were a result of “the use of disproportionate force” by the Georgian side overnight on August 2, when residential areas of the breakaway region’s capital Tskhinvali were shelled.

“It must be understood in Tbilisi that the threat of a violent scenario is real and it [the Georgian side] should undertake tangible measures to prevent further deepening of the crisis,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said. “Grigol Vashadze has assured us that the Georgian side intends to take measures to defuse tensions, including holding talks with the South Ossetian side.”