CoE Committee of Ministers calls on Russia to investigate serious crimes committed during August War
CoE Committee of Ministers on Friday urged once again the Russian authorities to “thoroughly, independently, effectively and promptly” investigate the serious crimes committed during the the armed conflict between the Russian Federation and Georgia in August 2008, as well as during the period of occupation, so as to “identify all those responsible for the purposes of bringing the perpetrators to justice.”
In this regard, the Committee of Ministers invited the authorities to “speedily and ex officio to re-examine the case files in light of the Court’s findings and, where the investigation remains feasible, to reopen or resume it.”
“The Council reiterating with profound concern the inability of Georgian nationals to return to their homes in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, strongly insisted that the Russian Federation, which has effective control over those regions, ensure without delay safe return of persons wishing to return to their homes,” reads the statement.