ECHR to decide on Georgia’s lawsuit against RussiaSeptember 22, 2011 - 10:43 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Court for Human Rights (ECHR) will decide on Thursday, September 23, whether it should consider Georgian lawsuit concerning the 2008 war with Russia, RIA Novosti reported. Russia and Georgia began a five-day war on August 8, 2008 after Georgia attacked its breakaway republic of South Ossetia in an attempt to bring it back under central control, killing dozens of Russian peacekeepers and hundreds of local residents. Georgia first addressed to the ECHR on August 12, 2008, but the formal application was filed on February 6, 2009. In its application, Tbilisi accused Moscow of "indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks" by Russian troops against Georgians in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It said Russia violated numerous provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights, including those guaranteeing the right to life, the prohibition of torture and inhuman treatment and the right to liberty and security. Russia denied the accusations as "ill-founded, unjustified and not confirmed by admissible evidence," saying its armed forces "defended the civilian population of South Ossetia against Georgian offensives." Thursday's hearing will be public, allowing the parties to present their stances to the court. If the court agrees that the lawsuit is suitable for consideration, it will appoint the date when the case will be heard. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Police try to impede Armenian Church head’s access to war memorial Police tried to stop the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Karekin II, from visiting a war memorial. Greece says ready to help as Armenia fights flooding consequences Greece is ready to assist Armenia in combatting the consequences of deadly floods in the country’s north. “He will leave”: Protest leader no longer demands meeting with Pashinyan Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan no longer demands a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Lemkin Institute petition seeks release of Armenians in Azerbaijan The Lemkin Institute is deeply concerned about the continued illegal detention of political prisoners from Karabakh in Azerbaijan. |