ICC confirmed Georgian troops acted “in full accordance” with int’l law during Russia-Georgia 2008 war - Deputy Justice Minister

The recent conclusion of the International Criminal Court on Russia-Georgia 2008 conflict “has confirmed” Georgian troops had acted “in full accordance” with international law during the war, Beka Dzamashvili, the Deputy Justice Minister of Georgia said on Friday, in response to the completion of the ICC investigation opened in 2016. 

• ICC announces completion of investigation into crimes during Russia-Georgia 2008 war

ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan on Friday noted the investigation had resulted in arrest warrants being issued in June against three suspects representing the de facto authorities in the Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, the epicenter of the conflict and a territory occupied by Russia since the war, also featuring a Russian military official as an offender, who is now deceased. 

The ICC conclusion has removed all [possible] question marks towards Georgia and reaffirmed the only country that had committed violations during the conflict is Russia”, Dzamashvili said. 

Congratulating the Georgian people and servicemembers on the ruling, the official stressed the decision “once again proved [war] crimes had been committed against the Georgian people on ethnic grounds, and the violations were large-scale”. 

“Neither the European Court of Human Rights nor ICC have detected any violations committed by Georgia in the conflict over the years”, Dzamashvili said, noting that Georgia had won all 3,300 complaints filed against it following the 2008 war between the countries to the ECHR. 

ICC was looking into potential war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Russia-Georgia 2008 war, with Khan pledging his office would take actions to ensure the “successful prosecution” of the individuals subject to arrest warrants.