The Chief of the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin hopes the international courts will bring a fair judgment on Georgia’s aggression against South Ossetia. At a press conference in Moscow, he presented evidence showing that Georgia used prohibited means of warfare and committed an act of genocide against South Ossetian civilians.

There is ample evidence supporting criminal charges against the current leadership of Georgia on several counts, including genocide and mercenarism. About 650 houses were destroyed, more than 2 000 buildings were severely damaged and more than 5 000 people suffered during Georgia’s aggression against South Ossetia in early August. Georgian troops included mercenaries from the Czech Republic, Turkey, as well as Ukrainian fighters from the Una Unso radical paramilitary organization. 48 Russian servicemen, including 10 peacekeepers, were killed, 157 others were wounded, and two are unaccounted for. The problem is that such cases do not fall within the jurisdiction of the Hague tribunal, while the International Court of Justice may refuse to accept Russia’s lawsuit because it has no jurisdiction over Georgia.

The head of the Russian Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin does not rule out the possibility of setting up an international judicial body – similar to the Hague Tribunal – for persons who committed crimes against the people of South Ossetia. Alexander Treshchov, a representative of the EU Chamber of Lawyers in Russia, offered his comment on the issue: “We must rely on international law in an attempt to find clauses, which, as we think, were violated by Georgia and its armed forces in that conflict. Justice is not subjected to emotions. Therefore, the only thing that should be taken into account is finding proof. We should understand that the world has not adopted a positive attitude towards Russia, and that international institutions are not in a hurry to meet either our claims or demands. Declarations are no good for bringing about any changes ever. What could be of help here is the following: well-prepared documents, a sound legal foundation, reliance on international treaties and laws, and the proper use of international institutions.”

The documents providing information about crimes will be submitted to the Russian foreign ministry, where a working group has been set up to investigate the criminal acts of Georgian military. In due time Russia’s foreign ministry will present all these documents to the international community. The published materials will serve as a basis for the prosecution of all those who are responsible for the aggression against South Ossetia. Investigation into the events in South Ossetia will be extended till April 2009.