KIEV, May 7 ??“ Ukraine and Georgia began consultations on whether the two countries should quit the Commonwealth of Independent States, a Russia-led alliance of former Soviet Union nations, a Georgian official said Sunday.

The move underscores rapidly worsening relations between Russia and the two countries that have been persistently challenging Moscow during the past 18 months by seeking a closer integration with the West.

???A Ukrainian Foreign Ministry team has arrived in Tbilisi to begin the consultations on the level of experts,??? Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili told reporters. ???The experts have to define all negative and positive consequences of the move.???

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said last year the future of the CIS would be in doubt unless Russia agrees to a free trade agreement within the alliance. The start of the talks between Ukraine and Georgia is an indication that no progress has been made in persuading Russia to accept the free trade rules.

"The CIS has virtually lost its economic sense,??? Anatoliy Kinakh, the top security advisor to Yushchenko, said last week. ???Hundreds of documents have been adopted, but are not being implemented.???

The development comes weeks after Russia has banned imports of wine and mineral water from Georgia, dealing a major blow to its economy and apparently seeking to punish Tbilisi for its pro-Western course.

Russia has taken a similar action against Ukraine earlier this year by banning imports of meat and dairy products, a measure estimated to cost Ukrainian companies about $800 million annually.

Russia also briefly suspended gas supplies to Ukraine on Jan. 1 to force it accept a 95% hike in gas prices. Gas supplies from Russia to Georgia were suspended for several weeks after pipelines had been disrupted by well-coordinated explosions on the Russian territory earlier this year. Georgia quickly accused Russia of sabotage, but Russia had denied the charges and said the explosions were an apparent terrorist strike.

Ukraine and Georgia are members of another regional alliance, known as GUAM, which also includes Moldova and Azerbaijan.

GUAM has been challenging Russia on energy and security policies by planning to build pipelines that would carry Caspian Sea oil and natural gas to Europe bypassing Russia and undercutting Gazprom??™s monopoly on gas supplies to the region.

As Ukraine and Georgia have been increasingly skeptical over the future of the CIS, the role of GUAM is expected to accelerate. Ukraine invited all member states to a summit in Kiev on May 22-23 to turn the regional alliance into a full-fledged international organization, according to Yushchenko??™s press service.

The departure of Ukraine and Georgia from the CIS would be a political setback to Russia, which has been seeking to elevate its influence on the region, including by using its energy monopoly.

A Russian politician warned the departure would probably trigger a new wave of economic sanctions from Russia against Ukraine and Georgia, including further increase in gas prices.

"Quitting the CIS??¦ would be a huge mistake of the Ukrainian authorities," said Vadim Gustov, the head of the CIS committee at the Council of Federation, Russia??™s upper house of Parliament. ???The issue of a radical revision of economic relations with Ukraine, including in energy deliveries, is coming to the foreground." (tl/ez)