Russia refuses to cooperate with ICC investigation into 2008 war crimes
Tbilisi: Refusal won’t hamper investigation
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Russia is refusing to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) as it investigates possible war crimes committed during a conflict between Russia and Georgia in 2008.
Russia’s Ministry of Justice issued a statement confirming it would not cooperate with the investigation, reported Russian media today.
Tbilisi was not surprised by Moscow’s decision. The Georgian side believed it would not be in Russia’s best interests for this case to be investigated.
Russian officials stated it would not collaborate with The Hague Court since the Russian parliament had not ratified the Rome Statue, which Russia signed in 2000.
"As of February 1, 2016, the Russia Federation has not ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the document has not come into power,” Russia’s Justice Ministry said.
The Rome Statute is the treaty that established the ICC. It was adopted at a diplomatic conference in Rome on July 17, 1998 and it entered into force on July 1, 2002.
Earlier, spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said Moscow was disappointed with ICC’s recent activities and would be forced to "fundamentally review its attitude towards the ICC”.
Zakharova said ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda had taken Georgia’s side and started an investigation aimed against Russia and South Ossetia.
"Such actions hardly reflect the ideals of justice,” she said.
Georgia’s Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani commented on Moscow’s accusatory statements and said the Georgian side would not be surprised if Russia didn’t support the investigation by the ICC.
"Georgia has chosen to cooperate with the ICC and even if Russia doesn’t participate in the investigation, Georgia will still find it easy to gather and present proof [of war crimes], including proof of ethnic cleansing of Georgians,” Tsulukiani said.
Georgia’s Defence officials also commented on the topic. Deputy Defence Minister Ana Dolidze said from a strategic point of view this step by Russia was an effort to make the international organisation "play with Russia’s own rules of the game”.
"If Russia doesn’t cooperate with the ICC it will be considered that Russia is not interested in an objective investigation of the issue,” Dolidze said.
Earlier ICC prosecutor Bensouda, who was approved to investigate the case, said if any side refused to cooperate, the investigation would continue regardless.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is not tasked to solve a dispute between countries but reveal concrete individuals who committed a crime. These words were spoken by The Hague prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in an interview with Georgia’s Public Broadcaster.
Georgia's Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili is welcoming the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s decision to authorise an investigation into possible war crimes committed during a conflict between Russia and Georgia in 2008.
The International Criminal Court made this decision after examining the prosecutor’s request and supporting material, including representations by or on behalf of 6,335 victims of the conflict. It will be the ICC's first investigation into a conflict outside Africa.
Georgia’s Justice Minister made a special statement today, and welcomed the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s decision to authorise an investigation into possible war crimes committed during a conflict between Russia and Georgia in 2008.
Crime that was allegedly committed on the territory of Georgia will be under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC), no matter if one side of the conflict is a member of the Rome Statute or not,” top ICC prosecutor said.
One of the top prosecutors working at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, is in Georgia, hoping to investigate allegations of war crimes committed during the Russia-Georgia war in August 2008.
In a statement today the Court said Bensouda concluded there was a "reasonable basis to believe" crimes had been committed during the short war over the Russian-backed breakaway Georgian province of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has confirmed Georgia is ready to collaborate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) as it investigates possible war crimes committed during a conflict between Russia and Georgia in 2008.
Tbilisi calls for world unity in response to crisis
When the clock strikes midnight tonight, Georgia will mark the eighth anniversary of Russia’s aggression and occupation of Georgian territory, as a sovereign, independent state.
Georgia is today commemorating a group of heroes of the Russia-Georgia war who heroically sacrificed their lives in a ‘David and Goliath’ type battle that took place in Shindisi Village, just outside capital Tbilisi.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) says they are intensively investigating the Russia-Georgia 2008 war and the staff of the ICC Prosecutor’s Office frequently pays visits to Georgia and other areas to check information at the scene.
The Registrar of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Herman von Hebel is paying a visit to Tbilisi, as part of the ongoing investigation for crimes within the ICC jurisdiction allegedly committed during the 2008 Russia-Georgia war.
Maria Zakharova, head of the press office of the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated today that NATO-Georgia drills nourish a militarist mood, referring to the Noble Partner multinational exercise being conducted near Tbilisi.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev says that Georgia’s accession to NATO may trigger "a terrible conflict" which will lead to catastrophic consequences.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) continues the investigation of the Russia-Georgia 2008 war and Georgia stands ready to provide the court with all necessary materials, Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze’s press office reported after his meeting with ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in New York yesterday.
Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that recent statements made by Spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova are cynical, as the latter said yesterday that the government of Georgia should “raise its citizens’ awareness regarding the border lines to avoid their detentions for illegal border crossings”.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is holding its regional conference in Tbilisi and marking the 20th anniversary of signing the Rome Statute.
The Georgian Dream ruling party says that the United National Movement has decided to “give a blow” to the Georgian armed forces and its unity through spreading “false and absurd information” as if Georgian soldiers who fought in the Russia-Georgia 2008 war have been abandoned by the government and that they will have to protect their own interests at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Georgian Deputy Justice Minister Gocha Lortkipanidze addressed the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) of International Criminal Court (ICC) yesterday and briefed the 123 state representatives about the expectations of Georgia regarding the ICC prosecutor’s investigation of the Russia-Georgia war in 2008.