Int’l Criminal Court holds regional event in Tbilisi, says Russia-Georgia war being intensely investigated

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is holding its regional conference in Tbilisi and marking the 20th anniversary of signing the Rome Statute.

The Rome Statute is the treaty that established the ICC, its functions and structure and four international crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression.

Under the statute the ICC is allowed to investigate these crimes when states are unable or unwilling to do so themselves.

The ICC, which has been investigating the Russia-Georgia 2008 war since January 2016, says that the process is ongoing and they are trying to involve Russia in the process, as the country consistently refuses to cooperate.

It is very important that the ICC is holding this high-level regional conference in Tbilisi with the involvement of delegates from 20 Eastern European countries. It is the outcome of our close cooperation, which will continue in the future,” Georgian Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani said.

We have been informed by the ICC prosecutor investigating the Russia-Georgia war that the investigation is in a very active phase and will soon advance to a new stage. We will continue to provide the court with evidence which will prove the ethnic cleansing of Georgians in 2008, torture and murder of Georgian captives and citizens,” Tsulukiani said.

ICC representative Phakiso Mochochoko confirmed that the war investigation is ongoing actively, but he was unable to state when the process might be completed.

It depends on many factors. We are trying to make Russia cooperate with us, but no results have been achieved in this regard so far,” he said.

The ICC regional conference in Tbilisi will continue until 26 October.