ECHR to decide on Georgia’s lawsuit against Russia

PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Court for Human Rights (ECHR) will decide on Thursday, September 23, whether it should consider Georgian lawsuit concerning the 2008 war with Russia, RIA Novosti reported.

Russia and Georgia began a five-day war on August 8, 2008 after Georgia attacked its breakaway republic of South Ossetia in an attempt to bring it back under central control, killing dozens of Russian peacekeepers and hundreds of local residents.

Georgia first addressed to the ECHR on August 12, 2008, but the formal application was filed on February 6, 2009.

In its application, Tbilisi accused Moscow of "indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks" by Russian troops against Georgians in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It said Russia violated numerous provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights, including those guaranteeing the right to life, the prohibition of torture and inhuman treatment and the right to liberty and security.

Russia denied the accusations as "ill-founded, unjustified and not confirmed by admissible evidence," saying its armed forces "defended the civilian population of South Ossetia against Georgian offensives."

Thursday's hearing will be public, allowing the parties to present their stances to the court. If the court agrees that the lawsuit is suitable for consideration, it will appoint the date when the case will be heard.