De facto president of Tskhinvali on ECHR’s ruling: ‘collective West is shielding Georgia’

De facto president of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region, Anatoly Bibilov, has said that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling on the August 2008 war cases in favour of Georgia was not unexpected.

Bibilov claims that the ‘collective West’ is shielding Georgia and encouraging the country to ‘continue armed aggressions.’

• De facto Tskhinvali says ECHR’s ruling on Russia-Georgia 2008 war is ‘biased, politicised’

The de facto president of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) maintains that his state will use every opportunity to ‘bring the truth’ about the events of August 2008 to the world.

I will not say that we were waiting for another decision. According to their logic, if Georgia did not actually seize control over South Ossetia, then it should not be held responsible for hundreds of killed and wounded civilians... The judges of the ECHR decided that this does not fall under Georgian jurisdiction, 

- Bibilov recently told the Res news agency.

The ECHR dismissed two Russian cases filed against Georgia pertaining to the August war of 2008 on October 21.

• President Zurabishvili: ECHR judgement shows Georgia is on ‘the right side of history’

Georgia won another lawsuit against Russia over the 2008 Russo-Georgian war in the ECHR on January 21, 2021. 

The verdict found Russia responsible for violating the human rights of Georgian citizens, and recognised the Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions as integral parts of Georgia.