Georgia welcomes ICC probe of 2008 war with Russia
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 28 January 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Georgia welcomes ICC probe of 2008 war with Russia, 28 January 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56c42971c.html [accessed 19 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
January 28, 2016
Georgia has welcomed a decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to open an investigation into alleged war crimes committed "in and around South Ossetia" during 2008, when Russia fought a brief war against Georgia over the breakaway region.
Georgian Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani told a press conference in Tbilisi on January 28 that the ICC probe will be an opportunity for Georgia to prove that Moscow and its proxy separatist forces in South Ossetia "committed ethnic cleansing of Georgians" and were responsible for killing Georgian prisoners of war.
The investigation will be the first by the ICC to examine a conflict outside of Africa.
Georgia launched an offensive to reclaim South Ossetia on the night of August 7-8, 2008.
Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgian president at the time, said Tbilisi was provoked by Russia and the separatists.
Russia responded with a counteroffensive in which its forces routed the Georgian military and swept beyond South Ossetia, which Tbilisi has not controlled since 1990, and deep into Georgian territory before withdrawing.
Based on reporting by AFP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
