International Court of Justice rejects Georgia's ethnic cleansing case against Russia

[News_Editor]

International Court of Justice rejects Georgia's ethnic cleansing case against Russia

2011-04-02 01:27:20 GMT+7 (ICT)

THE HAGUE (BNO NEWS) -- The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, on Friday rejected Georgia's ethnic cleansing case in South Ossetia against Russia.

Court president Hisashi Owada said the decision was taken due to the lack of evidence of "a genuine attempt by either Russia or Georgia to negotiate a settlement to the dispute before complaining to the court."

On August 12, 2008, Georgia filed an accusation against Russia for allegedly violating the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965) in the disputed republic of South Ossetia.

In December 2009, Russia filed objections in response to Georgia's application. On Friday, the UN Court ruled that it has no jurisdiction to decide the dispute and refused to consider the case.

"The court fully agreed with Russia's main thesis. We mentioned that it had no jurisdiction to consider the case. The court upheld this decision by ten votes to six," said Russian ambassador to the Netherlands, Roman Kolodkin.

In September 2008, the ICJ held hearings on Georgia's second application and decided to set temporary measures. The Court temporary called on Russia and Georgia to refrain from any forms of racial discrimination following the events in South Ossetia.

"The case was closed and the court's decision for temporary measures of 2008 was stopped and discontinued," added Ambassador Kolodkin.

Georgia claims that Russian forces and allies killed thousands of ethnic Georgians and displaced an estimated 300,000 more in Abkhazia and South Ossetia in over two decades. Russia rejects the allegations.

These acts lead to a five-day war in August 2008. Hundreds of Russian, Georgian, South Ossetian and Abkhazian soldiers were killed during the violent conflict, as well as more than 160 civilians.

Russia recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states two weeks after the conflict. Georgian forces had attacked South Ossetia in a failed attempt to bring it back under central control, after which Russia deployed its troops to protect the disputed area.

South Ossetia and neighboring Abkhazia consider themselves independent nations but are only recognized by Russia, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Georgia still considers the region part of its country, as most of the world's governments do.

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