UN to rule on Georgian bid

2008-10-13 09:37

The Hague - The UN's highest court will rule on Wednesday on a Georgian bid for protection against what it claims was a campaign of "ethnic cleansing" by Russia in their clash over two breakaway regions.

A month after Russian troops entered Georgia in early August to repel a Georgian military campaign to regain control of South Ossetia, Moscow and Tbilisi found themselves pursuing the argument before the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Georgia took Russia to court over alleged breaches of the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination, claims which Russia rejected.

Georgia instituted proceedings against its neighbour on August 12, claiming a Russian campaign of "ethnic cleansing" against Georgians in areas under Russian control.

Georgia claimed the war over the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia had forced up to 150 000 ethnic Georgians to flee.

As it can take months for the court to decide whether or not to take on a case, Georgia then brought another application on a more urgent basis asking for interim protection measures.

In this interim application, Georgia sought an order compelling Russia to protect ethnic Georgians from violent discriminatory acts, and to allow the return of refugees to South Ossetia, Abkhazia and adjacent "occupied" areas.

It is this matter on which the court will rule on Wednesday.

Moscow has denied the accusations, rejecting claims that the conflict had an ethnic character or that it was an occupying force.

Russia said the Georgian assault on South Ossetia had left it no choice but to send in tanks and troops.

Russia halted its offensive after five days, but has yet to withdraw all its troops from South Ossetia and Abkhazia, both of which it has since recognised as independent states.

Moscow has challenged the court's jurisdiction to hear the case, asking for a dismissal.

The ICJ settles disputes between sovereign states in line with international law.

It has no power of its own to enforce its rulings. That would fall on the UN Security Council, in which Russia - as a permanent member - wields a power of veto.

- SAPA