The court recognized that after the war unleashed by the Russian Federation in 2008, the Russian side systematically violated the rights of Georgian citizens in the territories that illegally declared themselves independent – in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In particular, we are talking about illegal restrictions on freedom of movement across administrative boundaries, arbitrary detentions, restrictions on access to houses and land, as well as violations of the right to education.
Russia's responsibility as a state includes paying compensation for moral damage to more than 29 thousand victims.
“On April 9, 2024, a decision was made in this case that placed full responsibility on the Russian Federation for mass persecution, detention, attacks, murders of the Georgian population in the occupied territories and along the occupation line, occurring against the backdrop of the occupation of Georgian territories and the so-called borderization. Today’s decision is a logical continuation of the historical cases won against Russia,” the decision says.
The court recalled that the ECHR also considered a case related to the mass deportation of Georgians from the Russian Federation, according to which Moscow is obliged to pay up to €10 million for the mass deportation of ethnic Georgians and gross violations of their rights. In another case, the Strasbourg court ordered the Russian authorities to pay up to €130 million for crimes during 2008 and beyond.
Although the Russian Federation is no longer a member of the Council of Europe, it is still legally obliged to implement these decisions and is subject to appropriate fines for each missed day, the decision notes.
Context
The Russian-Georgian war began on August 8, 2008 and lasted until August 12. The conflict erupted around South Ossetia and Abkhazia – regions that, according to former Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili, have been occupied since the early 90s.
According to official Georgian data, in the August 2008 conflict, 413 people were killed, including 166 military, 16 police and 220 civilians, and 2,234 people were injured. Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said that Ukraine provided Georgia with the Buk and Osa anti-aircraft systems, thanks to which 12 Russian bombers were shot down.
On August 26, 2008, Russia recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states, although Georgia considers them occupied territories. In 2018, 11 countries demanded that the Russian Federation withdraw troops from South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
