Human Rights Center to Represent Interests of the 2008 August War Victims before ICC

In case the International Criminal Court (the ICC) commences the investigation into the alleged war crimes committed during 2008 August war, Human Rights Center will actively defend interests of the victims at the ICC.  

On October 13, Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda of the ICC requested authorization from Pre-Trial Chamber to open an investigation into the alleged grave crime committed during the August 2008 war. With the notice, the Prosecutor informed the victims and their authoritative representatives to submit their comments on whether an investigation on such alleged crimes should be opened before November 12, 2015.

On November 9, lawyers of Human Rights Center paid field visits to the conflict affected villages of Nikozi and Ergneti. They met victims of the August 2008 war, recorded their positions about the need to start investigation into the alleged crimes during the war.

On November 12, Human Rights Center submitted positions of 193 victims to the Pre-Trial Chamber of the ICC and on behalf of the victims supported the request of the Prosecutor to commence the investigation.

On November 17-22 with financial support of the Open Society Georgia Foundation, head of the Legal Aid Service of Human Rights Center Tamar Avaliani, together with the representatives of partner NGOs, participated in the 14th Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute (ASP) in The Hague.

Georgian delegation members met representatives of different structures of the ICC, international organizations and academic circles. During the meetings, the Georgian delegation members spoke about the achievements and challenges of the ICC.

Representative of Human Rights Center spoke about the necessity to investigate the crimes committed during the 2008 August war by the ICC and noted that victims of the Georgian-Russian war deserve justice and that perpetrators shall be punished. State officials of any parties of the conflict, who allegedly committed crimes against humanity, shall not remain unpunished.

Human Rights Center