But speaking to reporters, Ivanov said: "Georgia has chosen a military approach to solve issues in Abkhazia and North Ossetia -- this is the heart of the problem."
Georgian police maintained a cordon around a Russian military office in Tbilisi, demanding the hand-over of another Russian officer wanted by Georgia on suspicion of spying.
Russian ambassador Kovalenko denounced video footage shown on Georgian television that was said to prove the arrested men's guilt, saying it was "very unclear" and contained "no facts that would prove the officers' guilt."
The row follows Russian anger at Georgia's growing links to NATO and in particular an announcement on those links by the alliance last week.
NATO said that it was starting "intensified dialogue" with Georgia over the country's possible entry into the alliance.
Adding to tensions, Saakashvili on Wednesday visited the Kodori gorge, which overlooks the Russian-backed breakaway region of Abkhazia, after Georgian forces dislodged a local militia leader there this summer.
Saakashvili said the restoration of central power in the gorge would lead to the return of Abkhazia proper to Georgian control and announced that the gorge would henceforth be known as Upper Abkhazia.
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